Public Notice Question |12 October 2022

Minister enlightens Assembly on Seychelles-Madagascar relations

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, has said that although Madagascar is a sister island close to us, for different reasons, there is not much in terms of bilateral relations happening at country level between Seychelles and Madagascar.

The minister was answering a private notice question (PNQ) by the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Honourable Sebastien Pillay, who wanted him to provide to the National Assembly details on the relationship between our country and Madagascar and also if there had been any seizure of gold in the country made by the Seychelles authorities who have a connection with Madagascar.

Minister Radegonde explained that most of interactions between Madagascar and our country occur via the Indian Ocean Commission (COI) through coordination of tangible regional projects.

He noted though that in 2014 our country and Madagascar did sign a bilateral air services agreement which saw a couple of flights made by Air Seychelles there, have also a military cooperation which had seen the conduct of some military exercises which also included Mauritius and Comoros, and the engagement in maritime security.

He said that our country is looking to engage in a discussion with the sister island on both country’s EEZs which overlaps each other and further that we have welcomed the Malagasy community (526) living in the country.

With regards to the question in relation to the gold seizure in 2021, Minister Radegonde confirmed that the seizure did occur last year where four Malagasies, a Frenchman and a Seychellois were apprehended with 22 pieces of gold bars.

He said that while the six persons involved have been sentenced, he cannot provide further information as there is another case in connection with the seizure which is still going on in our court.

Minister Radegonde added that he was not aware if there was money seized during the operation.

He assured the assembly that the ongoing court case, in connection with the gold seizure, will not have any break in the relationship between our country and Madagascar given the amicable relations between the two countries at all levels. He noted that the Malagasy in jail here cannot be repatriated to Madagascar as we do not have extradition agreements with the sister island.

Asked by Hon. Pillay what the government intends to do with the gold, Minister Radegonde said that the fate will be decided by the court.

Patrick Joubert