17 March 2026 , 19:31
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Mamitiana Rajaonarison, a longtime financial intelligence official, takes the helm of a government struggling to stabilize the island nation following severe political unrest.
Mamitiana Rajaonarison, an anti-corruption expert newly appointed as Madagascar’s prime minister, pledged on Monday to put himself "at the service" of the country in his first public address since taking the helm of the government.
Rajaonarison’s appointment was formalized on Sunday by transitional President Michaël Randrianirina at the state palace in Iavoloha. The move came just a week after Randrianirina abruptly dissolved the administration of the former prime minister, Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo.
The choice places a veteran financial investigator at the top of a government struggling to stabilize the island nation following severe political unrest last year.
In a video statement released Monday, Rajaonarison vowed to place himself entirely “at the service of Madagascar and the Malagasy people.”
While he has not yet laid out a detailed governing agenda, his résumé sends a clear political message at a volatile moment.
Since April 2021, Rajaonarison has served as the director general of SAMIFIN, Madagascar’s financial intelligence service, which is tasked with combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Prior to that role, he spent more than a decade at BIANCO, the country’s independent anti-corruption bureau, according to the local news outlet 2424.mg.
In a speech detailing the appointment, Randrianirina said he chose Rajaonarison “for his integrity” and explicitly directed him to lead the government “on the path of integrity” to restore public hope.
According to reports from 2424.mg, the transitional president urged the new premier to move quickly to form a cabinet, implement the government’s transitional program, and unite the country’s fractured “living forces.”
Official channels moved swiftly to codify the leadership change. The Foreign Ministry confirmed the March 15 appointment in a public statement, and official postings referenced Decree No. 2026-776, which formalized the presidential act.
For Randrianirina—who assumed power following last year’s upheaval—the appointment is a critical step in his promise to deliver structural reforms, draft a new constitution, and ultimately guide the country toward future democratic elections. Tapping a career anti-corruption official is a clear attempt to signal a definitive break from the political crises of the past.
In his first public video statement on Monday, Madagascar’s new prime minister and anti-corruption expert, Mamitiana Rajaonarison, said he was determined to place himself “at the service of Madagascar and the Malagasy people” after being appointed to lead the government.
Rajaonarison’s Rajaonarivelo. According to 2424.mg’s report on the appointment, Rajaonarison had served since April 2021 as director general of SAMIFIN, Madagascar’s financial intelligence service, which is responsible for fighting money laundering and terrorism financing. Before that, the outlet reported, he spent more than a decade at BIANCO, the country’s independent anti-corruption bureau.
In a separate 2424.mg article quoting the president’s speech, Randrianirina said he had chosen Rajaonarison “for his integrity” and wanted him to lead the government “on the path of integrity” to restore hope. He also urged the new premier to move quickly to form a cabinet, implement the transitional government’s program, and unite the country’s “living forces.”
Official government channels also moved quickly to formalize the decision. Madagascar’s Foreign Ministry said in a Facebook statement that Rajaonarison had been named prime minister and head of government on March 15. Other official and semi-official Facebook posts referenced Decree No. 2026-776, indicating the appointment had been formalized by presidential act the same day.
The choice puts an anti-corruption official at the center of a government facing political uncertainty. Randrianirina, who took power after last year’s unrest, has promised reforms and a path toward a new constitution and future elections. Rajaonarison has not yet laid out a detailed governing agenda publicly, but both his résumé and the president’s remarks suggest the appointment is being presented as a clean-government signal at a volatile moment for Madagascar.
Deputy Editor