Antananarivo Welcomes Regional Leaders

On April 24, 2025, the Malagasy capital will host the fifth summit of Heads of State and Government of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ritesh Ramful, will lead a delegation from Mauritius. Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan will also be present with several members of his government.

Founded in 1982 by the Port Louis Declaration and institutionalized in 1984 with the Victoria Agreement, the IOC comprises five members: the Comoros, France (represented by Réunion), Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles. This regional organization, the only one in Africa composed exclusively of islands, focuses on key issues such as climate management, maritime security, and food sovereignty. This summit is of particular importance, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the IOC and addressing key issues for island nations. Among the topics discussed are climate change and the preservation of maritime resources.

Arriving two days before the summit, President Ramkalawan was warmly welcomed in Antananarivo by the Malagasy Prime Minister, Christian Ntsay, and the Minister of Mines, Olivier Herindrainy Rakotomalala. This gesture symbolizes the strength of diplomatic relations between IOC member countries.

During his speech, the Head of State emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to strengthen maritime security and develop the blue economy. The President of Seychelles also emphasized the need to strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate change, a key issue for island nations vulnerable to its effects.

Another key moment of the summit is the scheduled meeting between the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, and French President Emmanuel Macron. This meeting aims to strengthen Franco-Indian cooperation in areas such as the fight against climate change and the promotion of sustainable development in the region.