05:16
ELECTION OBSERVATION
The Safidy Observatory, in a report on the conduct of the legislative elections held on May 29th, has made several recommendations to improve the organization of elections and prevent electoral malpractices. Among them are, for example, the effective operationalization of the Commission for the Control of Political Party Financing (CCFVP) and the National Authority for the Regulation of Mediated Communication (ANRCM), the updating of ordinance no. 60-082 of August 13, 1960 on public meetings, the strengthening of the dissemination of procedures relating to electoral disputes, and the establishment of a more effective mechanism for handling electoral criminal offenses.
07:00
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
According to the report of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on the State of the World Population 2024 presented on Thursday in Antananarivo, the analysis of census data and surveys conducted in several countries has shown that life expectancy has increased by 6 years over the past 20 years. In 2023, life expectancy at birth reached 80.1 years for men and 85.8 years for women. Progress has been made in Madagascar, with a life expectancy of 66.4 years in 2023. According to this report from UNFPA, the island has made notable progress in sexual and reproductive health. The country has seen a significant increase in family planning, with a rate of modern contraceptive use increasing from 10% to 43% between 1997 and 2021. Moreover, more than 160 countries, including Madagascar, have adopted laws against gender-based violence. In these countries, the rate of unintended pregnancies has also dropped by 20%, and since 2020, the teenage fertility rate has decreased by one third.
09:00
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
The 2024 Report on Human Trafficking in Madagascar states that the Malagasy Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so. These efforts have included investigating more trafficking cases, prosecuting more traffickers, allocating part of its budget to the National Bureau for Combating Human Trafficking (BNLTEH) for the first time in three years, and making efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sexual services, including the trafficking of children for sexual purposes in the tourism sector. However, the Government has not shown an overall increase in efforts compared to the previous reporting period. In fact, it has not convicted any traffickers for the third consecutive year. Furthermore, serious and persistent concerns remain regarding the complicity of authorities in trafficking crimes, and the Government has not held any responsible officials accountable or investigated reports of agents who have committed or facilitated trafficking crimes. According to the report, the Government identified fewer trafficking victims, 189 compared to 223 in the previous reporting period. It should be noted that Madagascar has remained on the Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year.
11:00
AIR TRANSPORT
After surpassing 2019 levels for three consecutive months, freight traffic fell by 15 points in May compared to April 2024. However, it has increased by 24 points compared to May 2023. According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Madagascar, the level shows a -24% deviation compared to the same month in 2019, with the most significant decline being in regional traffic. It should be noted that in May 2024, more than 1,300 tons of freight were transported, with 3% on domestic flights, 31% on long-haul flights, and 66% on regional flights.
12:00
EMIRATES AIRLINES
A dedicated committee for the arrival of Emirates Airlines has been established under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic. The Ministry of Transport and Meteorology emphasizes that the arrival of this airline to Madagascar is of major strategic importance for the country, facilitating better air connectivity and opening new perspectives for Malagasy tourism development. This air link is expected to stimulate economic and trade exchanges between Madagascar and the United Arab Emirates, thus paving the way for new opportunities. It should be recalled that Emirates Airlines plans to operate four flights per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday) between Dubai and Antananarivo, via the Seychelles, starting from September 3rd. A Boeing 777-300ER will operate the route.
13:00
CUSTOMS
According to the General Customs Directorate data, 1,728.8 billion ariary of budget revenue was collected for the first six months of 2024. Furthermore, 9,889.9 billion ariary of imports, equivalent to 2,212.9 million US dollars, were recorded at the Customs, including operations of free zone enterprises and other non-taxable operations, while 143.4 billion ariary of import duties and taxes were exempted on Council notes for the first half of 2024.
14:00
HEART DISEASES
The Integrated Project for Screening and Developing Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in the Indian Ocean was launched last April. Carried out by La Chaîne de l’Espoir and co-financed up to 1.2 million euros by the AFD – French Development Agency, this project aims to strengthen local capacities in terms of screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiac diseases in children. It is expected to strengthen the health system by structuring an efficient referral system in 4 regions of Madagascar and 3 islands of the Comoros. According to the explanations, approximately 21,000 children are expected to benefit from pediatric consultations, and 180 heart surgeries will be performed as part of this project.
15:00
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Former Malagasy professional footballer, Faneva Andriatsima, recently launched his company named SAS TENREC SPORTS 261, specializing in personalized sports equipment, particularly in sublimation and trophies. SAS TENREC SPORTS 261 offers unique sports clothing and accessories (tracksuits, shorts, undershirts, etc.), with each jersey and tracksuit designed to be a unique product. According to the explanations, SAS TENREC SPORTS 261 targets clubs, communities, and companies, meeting all their sports equipment needs. Currently, the company markets its products in Europe and the Overseas Departments and Territories (DROM-COM).
16:00
FISCAL LAW
The Collective of Citizens and Citizen Organizations (CCOC) regrets that despite the significant budgetary restrictions it brings, the Amended Fiscal Law (LFR) 2024 has not been consulted by the various stakeholders, nor discussed within the Parliament. The National Assembly has a period of 30 days from the submission for a first reading, and the Senate has 15 days. According to the CCOC, the Parliament has so far not fully played its role by adopting without amendment and without taking the time to discuss the impact of the significant budgetary restrictions envisaged by the LFR.
17:00
HIGHWAY PROJECT
According to the Ministry of Public Works, the Environmental Specifications, attached to the environmental permit for the Antananarivo – Toamasina highway project, mention several obligations to maximize biodiversity, the environment, health, and safety. As an example, the Ministry of Public Works assures that rice fields should be preserved unless the passage is technically necessary and unavoidable. Indeed, the Ministry indicates that it has demanded changes in the route to the Construction Company, so that it no longer crosses the valleys, following observations on the ground with the populations concerned by the construction project of the Antananarivo – Toamasina highway. According to around fifty civil society organizations, the known route to date would directly contradict Madagascar’s commitments at the international level, whether it be on poverty reduction, forest and biodiversity protection, or the fight against climate change and its impacts. Likewise, the project is inconsistent with very important national frameworks, such as the Environmental Charter, the Decree on Investments Compliance with the Environment (MECIE), and the Protected Areas Code, they add. Civil society asks the funders of this highway project to respect the environmental and social management standards in force at the national and international levels, particularly in terms of respecting protected areas and conducting environmental and social impact assessments. Furthermore, it asks all funders of Madagascar to make respect for protected areas a central point of their dialogue with the Government of Madagascar on the conditionality of bilateral and multilateral financing, and to engage in a dialogue with the authorities of Madagascar on solutions for modernizing transportation between Antananarivo and Toamasina, and in case satisfactory solutions are found, to provide their assistance.
