The trial over the sale of Boeing jets to Iran resumes Tuesday, October 27 in Antananarivo. Thirty-three people are charged. Malagasy businessman Mamy Ravatomanga, under financial crimes investigation in Mauritius, remains unable to leave the island.
The Case: Five Boeings, Iran and an Opaque Setup
At the heart of the affair: five Boeing aircraft registered in Madagascar allegedly transferred to Iran in violation of international sanctions. The accused reportedly facilitated the transactions through Udaan Aviation, a Malagasy company with minimal capital and no aviation experience, backed by a US$40 million World Bank subsidy. Two of the aircraft (registered 5R-RIS and 5R-ISA) are specifically cited in the Mauritius investigations. Madagascar's Anti-Corruption Pole (PAC) has reopened the file and questioned former civil aviation (ACM) officials, including the jailed director general, who claims he acted on direct ministerial instruction.
Ravatomanga: Between Mauritius and Antananarivo
A central figure in the business network close to former president Andry Rajoelina — now in exile in Dubai — Mamy Ravatomanga is currently under investigation by Mauritius's Financial Crimes Commission (FCC), which is examining financial flows linked to Udaan Potentials Ltd, a Mauritius-registered entity struck off the register in January 2025. The Antananarivo trial involves 33 accused, including former ministers and senior officials. Former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, who took over the Transport portfolio after the dismissal of Minister Valéry Ramonjavelo, is reportedly also in Dubai.
Multi-Jurisdictional Scheme, Stalled Judicial Cooperation
The case illustrates a reality investigators in the region know well: suspicious flows in the Indian Ocean zone pass through several jurisdictions — Madagascar, Mauritius, Dubai. A promised FBI mission never materialised. International cooperation remains stalled, allowing key accused to remain beyond the reach of Malagasy courts.
Why It Matters
Beyond the judicial scandal, this case crystallises the governance challenges that hold back investment in the Indian Ocean region. For foreign companies considering Madagascar, the resumption of the trial is a positive signal: the state is trying to clean up its affairs. But the exile of the main accused speaks volumes about the limits of regional judicial cooperation — a challenge that directly conditions the continent's credibility with investors.