Arms deliveries and Africa Corps training: How Russia is bolstering its presence in Madagascar
From deliveries of drones and armoured vehicles to training sessions led by Russian Africa Corps instructors, security cooperation between Madagascar and Russia has intensified since the October 2025 coup. Russia’s growing influence is expanding into other sectors as well, raising questions within parts of Malagasy civil society.
Issued on: 06/05/2026 - 13:20
8 min Reading time Share By: The FRANCE 24 Observers / Lise KIENNEMANN
Two tracked BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and various pieces of protective gear were among the items showcased during a "Russian military-technical aid handover" ceremony held at the Ivato military camp in Madagascar on April 1.
The images were released by the Russian Embassy in Madagascar, which noted that "small arms" were also included in the delivery. According to the embassy, the equipment is intended to "strengthen [Madagascar’s] defence capabilities and develop the potential of the national armed forces".
The delivery was attended by the transitional president, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, who seized power in October 2025 following weeks of youth-led Gen Z protests and a military takeover that ousted the former president.
The move is one of the latest signs of deepening ties between Russia and the African island nation. Last November, Randrianirina indicated he was open to all international partnerships, provided the arrangement is “win-win”.
Russian delegation and military equipment
The rapprochement between the two countries materialised in December 2025 with the arrival of Russian personnel and equipment.
On December 20, an aircraft operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence and currently under US sanctions, registration RA-86572, landed at Madagascar’s Antananarivo-Ivato International Airport.
By the next day, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, President of the National Assembly, announced that a 40-member Russian delegation had arrived on the island. He further noted that equipment had been provided to the presidential guard "within the framework of legitimate state cooperation". Randrianasoloniaiko, known for his close ties to Moscow, is regarded as a pivotal figure in this deepening partnership.
Images released by Randrianasoloniaiko show crates containing an assault rifle, a Russian-made Boomerang drone, and a drone controller, according to details provided by the investigative collective All Eyes on Wagner. Randrianasoloniaiko said that "16 kamikaze drones, 50 handguns and 50 Kalashnikovs" were delivered.
The news caused a significant stir, particularly as the Russian delegation was reportedly led by Andrei Averyanov. Averyanov serves as the deputy head of Russian military intelligence and is the alleged commander of Africa Corps, the paramilitary group that succeeded the Wagner organisation.
Training by ‘Africa Corps instructors’
Less than a month later, on January 14, the transitional presidency announced that Russia had supplied weapons to the Malagasy military. They further noted that a "Russian delegation" had arrived to "train the Malagasy army on the use of this new equipment".
They confirmed that training commenced that same day, releasing images featuring masked Russian instructors alongside drones, assault rifles, and sniper rifles. According to the presidency, 140 Russian instructors have reportedly been deployed across the island.
According to African Initiative – a Russian news agency branding itself as an "information bridge" between Russia and Africa – 140 Malagasy soldiers have completed this "initial training" conducted by "Africa Corps instructors”. The media outlet reported that this eight-week program is expected to be followed by a secondary training phase.
A report by Russian state television channel RT, aired on March 15, detailed that the instruction provided by these "Russian Africa Corps military instructors" covers a wide range of specialities, from military engineering and assault units to snipers, reconnaissance teams, and attack-drone operators.
In the report, a masked Russian instructor says he teaches the use of reconnaissance drones, techniques for dropping payloads on targets and the deployment of kamikaze drones. The footage also depicts military drills involving Kalashnikov rifles.
“This training ... could strengthen the Malagasy military, primarily for our own protection and subsequently to combat zebu rustlers in the south and west of the country,” Randrianirina stated in the report.
Separately, the presidency announced on April 23 the conclusion of a seven-week training program conducted by "Russian soldiers". The session was held for 14 members of the presidential guard with the aim of "bolstering the security of the Guard of Honour".
Trucks and helicopters to ‘deliver humanitarian aid’
Following the cyclones that struck Madagascar, Russia delivered additional equipment in February. Images released on February 27 by the transitional presidency show the unveiling of six Kamaz trucks and two Mi-8 helicopters, alongside food aid, at Antananarivo airport. The equipment arrived via two separate shipments reported on February 18 and 21 by the Russian Embassy and the African Initiative.
Meanwhile, on February 19, the Malagasy president was received with full honours by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where he announced "a new era of cooperation" with Russia.
"These vehicles will be deployed immediately to deliver humanitarian aid to Toamasina and remote areas," the presidency stated, noting they will "subsequently be handed over to security forces to combat insecurity and crime".
"This humanitarian component is important as it bolsters the image of a government taking action for its people,” Ivan Klyszcz, a researcher at the International Centre for Defence and Security in Estonia, told our team.
Protection for the authorities?
While the government openly communicates regarding the provision of Russian training and equipment, it remains more discreet about the role Russian personnel may play in protecting officials.
According to French daily Le Monde, "mercenaries" from Africa Corps are providing "close protection" for the transitional president.
In late March, Malagasy social media users circulated photos of the president of the National Assembly flanked by white bodyguards – alleged by some to be Russian mercenaries. The images sparked accusations that the official lacks confidence in the Malagasy military. "The President of the National Assembly is being escorted by them," said Thierry Vircoulon, an associate researcher at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) Sub-Saharan Africa Centre.
Vircoulon suggests this "personal security" was the primary reason the government invited them. "He is afraid of another coup," he said.
Regardless, Russian personnel have seemingly become part of the landscape, according to the local press.
‘Opaque cooperation’
As civil society denounces a lack of reform and eroding freedoms, and Amnesty International warns of "arbitrary arrests", this strengthened cooperation is being met with scepticism by a segment of the population.
We spoke with a resident, who requested anonymity:
"Our problem is access to water and electricity. Madagascar is an island. We wonder why they are sending us tanks [armoured vehicles] – that isn't the priority. And why are they hiring Russian mercenaries when we have our own Malagasy soldiers?"
The Collective of Citizens and Civic Organisations (CCOC), through its Secretary-General, Hony Radert, is also calling for "much more transparency" on the matter. "We don't understand this militarisation," Radert told our team. "What justifies it? Is this truly the priority, given the development needs of the population? Currently, there is no clear explanation for the Russian presence or the military buildup."
Seta Dera, general coordinator of the Liberty 32 association, also described an “opaque cooperation”.
"Partnering with Russia is one thing, but the agreements must be transparent. We are concerned. We question what is being given in exchange for these donations, as well as their actual utility – how exactly these weapons will be used."
Furthermore, the CCOC believes that this type of cooperation falls outside the current administration's mandate. "Their mission is to successfully lead the transition and achieve a genuine overhaul of the governance system," Radert said. "In our view, they should be focusing on consultations and managing day-to-day affairs. Now is not the time to be forging new ties that bind the country's future."
The narrative of a ‘benevolent global power’
What drives Russia’s interests in Madagascar?
"As seen in the Central African Republic, once they have seized the levers of power, they will drive out Europeans in general – and the French in particular. Then, they will make money," said Vircoulon, pointing to the island’s deposits of gold and other minerals.
The island also borders the Mozambique Channel, a corridor that is becoming "all the more significant today due to instability in the Middle East", said Klyszcz. "Ships bypassing the Red Sea via the Cape of Good Hope pass right through it."
However, according to the researcher, this involvement extends beyond commercial interests:
"Russia is seeking to bolster its narrative as a benevolent global power that supports governments striving for sovereignty. They want to shift the foreign policy of African nations toward a stance that is more favourable to Russia."
Cultural and economic influence
Russia’s interest in the island is not entirely unprecedented; in 2018, Moscow attempted to influence the outcome of the presidential elections. However, the current expansion of its influence is unfolding with remarkable speed, extending beyond the military sector into the cultural and economic spheres.
"Russia has secured a slot on national radio and is currently in the process of acquiring several private media outlets," Vircoulon said.
A new pro-Russian political party, the “Patriotic Awakening of a United Madagascar”, was also launched in early March. It serves as the political wing of "The Friends of Russia in Madagascar", an organisation that acts as a key intermediary for Russian influence within the country's power circles.
Furthermore, a Russian-Malagasy Chamber of Commerce was established in late March to bolster trade between the two nations.
These deepening ties come at a time when diplomatic relations with France have faced turbulence. While a historical partner to the island, Paris has faced sharp criticism following the exfiltration of former president Andry Rajoelina aboard a French aircraft.
On April 28, Madagascar called for the expulsion of a French embassy official suspected of involvement in "acts of destabilisation”. The move followed a wave of rumours circulating on social media, which the French Embassy denied, stating it "questioned the origins and motives of those spreading" the reports.
On April 29, the Malagasy transitional presidency announced that the Malagasy and French presidents were reaffirming their commitment to ensuring that "this episode does not undermine the momentum of cooperation between the two countries".
Advertising Keywords for this articleСхожі новини
На биеннале представят проект Невидимый павильон, который напомнит об убитых Россией украинских художников
Jeff Bridges Narrated Documentary ‘In the Company of Wolves: An American Journey’ Acquired by Vision Films (EXCLUSIVE)
Uber jumps 5% as company issues higher-than-expected bookings guidance
