The Ravatomanga Affair: Transparency or Confusion?

The program "Au Cœur de l’Info," hosted by Ashna Nuckcheddy-Rabot this Friday afternoon, revisited a situation that is shaking the Mauritian political and diplomatic landscape: the landing of a private jet belonging to Malagasy businessman Mamy Ravatomanga. Amidst allegations of administrative confusion and questions about the government’s decision-making chain, a debate ensued between Rajen Narsinghen, Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deepak Balgobin, former MSM minister.

Since Mamy Ravatomanga’s plane was allowed to land in Mauritius citing a fuel emergency, criticisms have proliferated. Paul Bérenger, who was then 'Acting Prime Minister', claimed he was not consulted, highlighting a serious flaw in governmental coordination. When questioned about the management of this crisis, Rajen Narsinghen emphasized the official position: "Considering the Prime Minister's statement, decisions were made swiftly. Within a week, a fact-finding committee was established. The Prime Minister assured that there would be no preferential treatment—regardless of the individuals involved."

He argues that institutions acted according to established protocols: "When the control tower indicates an emergency, safety remains the priority. The Secretary for Home Affairs acted in the context of an emergency and based on the information available at that time. If there was any wrongdoing, the investigation will reveal it."

The Junior Minister also stressed the need to maintain Mauritius's credibility on the international stage: "These are allegations; nothing has been proven yet. We must protect our global business sector and the reputation of our institutions." However, in response to this plea for caution, Deepak Balgobin firmly countered, "What happened is an unprecedented scandal. When a foreign plane requests to enter our airspace, there is a very strict protocol. The Prime Minister, or in this case the Acting Prime Minister, must be consulted before any authorization is granted." For the former MSM minister, this incident mainly highlights a lack of rigor at the top of the state: "The report submitted to Parliament is clear: it was the Secretary for Home Affairs who gave the green light. The question is simple: did she consult the Acting Prime Minister? If not, on what basis did she make that decision? In such a case, she should have stepped down."

Ashna Nuckcheddy-Rabot attempted to steer the debate back to the core question: is this an isolated administrative error or a deeper political dysfunction? Rajen Narsinghen insisted on the need to let the investigation proceed: "We must not speculate. The investigation committee is independent. The conclusions will determine whether there was a lie from the pilot or an administrative oversight."

But Deepak Balgobin perceives a troubling signal: "It is strange that a plane could land in Mauritius without the government being properly informed. This raises issues of safety, transparency, and international credibility."