As announced prior to his departure, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina met with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, yesterday. According to the Presidency, strengthening cooperation between the two nations was the focus of their discussions.
The meeting took place at the Élysée Palace following the opening of the International Space Summit. This marks the second encounter between the two leaders since the Colonel took office. While the first meeting on February 24th resulted in a joint statement, no such document has been released yet for this session.
A key topic on the agenda was the Volobe hydroelectric project, which has been stalled for a decade. The project involves complex financial closing and ongoing negotiations regarding electricity tariffs and concession terms. During his visit to Madagascar in April 2025, President Macron announced the entry of Électricité de France (EDF) into the project’s capital.
Following his time in Paris, Colonel Randrianirina traveled to Brussels to meet with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The Belgian government has offered to support Madagascar in securing access to the Green Climate Fund to finance the realization of the Volobe project, which is crucial for addressing the country’s persistent electricity shortages.
Beyond economic dossiers, the Colonel’s trip serves a diplomatic purpose, reinforcing his administration’s international legitimacy. In addition to his meetings with Macron and De Wever, he held talks with Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and is scheduled to meet with Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, to discuss upcoming electoral deadlines in Madagascar. The Colonel is also expected to attend the UN Summit in New York later this month and the Russia-Africa Summit in October.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-11 06:08:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/rencontre-macron-randrianirina-la.html