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Just days after publicly declaring he had nothing to hide, Mamy Ravatomanga, one of Madagascar’s most powerful businessmen and a close ally of the president, quietly left the country on a private jet.
Ravatomanga was joined by Christian Ntsay, the former prime minister, on the late-night flight on Oct. 12, according to sources familiar with the matter. The two landed discreetly in Mauritius, far from the growing street protests in Antananarivo demanding their arrest.
The flight marks a dramatic turn for Ravatomanga, who only a few days earlier had appeared on a Malagasy TV program to defend his reputation. He portrayed himself as a self-made entrepreneur whose sprawling business empire — estimated to be worth several hundred million dollars — was built on legitimate success. He denied meddling in politics, despite persistent allegations that he wielded influence through political allies, including Ntsay, who held the prime minister’s post from 2018 until his dismissal earlier this year.
Ravatomanga’s television appearance was widely seen as an attempt to polish his image. At the time, he even dared his critics — notably Colonel Patrick Rakotomamonjy, a former military officer in exile — to return to Madagascar and confront him in court. “I have nothing to fear,” he said with confidence.
But when Rakotomamonjy did return, signaling his intention to pursue the matter legally, Ravatomanga did the opposite of what he had pledged: he fled. Ntsay, once considered politically untouchable, left with him.
Their sudden departure underscores not just a personal retreat but a wider political tension in Madagascar, where anger over corruption, political patronage and economic inequality has spilled into the streets.
Mauritius, a frequent destination for Malagasy migrants seeking work, has also become a haven for the country’s wealthy elite, some of whom have left the country amid mounting scrutiny.
For now, Ravatomanga and Ntsay remain abroad, while protests at home continue to intensify — a sign that their escape may have only deepened the country’s political crisis.
