An ecumenical service for the nation and in tribute to the victims of recent kidnappings was held yesterday on the forecourt of the City Hall in Analakely. On the sidelines of the event, the Minister of Justice provided an update on the situation.
According to Fanirisoa Ernaivo, Minister of Justice, thirty files related to recent disappearance cases are currently pending in the judicial system across the country. The Minister shared this information with the press yesterday during the ecumenical service.
Minister Ernaivo explained that the accused in twelve of these thirty cases have already been brought before the public prosecutor. Ten cases are being handled by the Court of First Instance (TPI) of Antananarivo, while two are before regional courts. Narindra Navalona Rakotoniaina, Public Prosecutor at the TPI of Antananarivo, confirmed that sixteen individuals were brought before the court in these ten cases, with eleven currently in pre-trial detention.
Furthermore, twenty other cases are still under investigation by the gendarmerie and police. The Minister noted that nine deaths have been linked to these recent disappearances, and systematic autopsies are being conducted on all bodies found. She also stated that survivors will be interviewed once they have recovered from their trauma.
Regarding the motives, the Minister revealed that suspects in three cases have confessed. One case involves the kidnapping of a young girl in Ambositra, whose body was found in a septic tank on July 22. Another case in the capital is reportedly linked to a “settling of scores,” while a third suspect confessed to kidnapping for the purpose of a “sacrifice to become rich.”
When asked about potential political destabilization, the Minister stated, “We have names, as this is an operation carried out by a group of people, not just one.” She emphasized that authorities are carefully collecting intelligence to avoid implicating innocent people.
Finally, the Minister provided national statistics from the Anti-Kidnapping Operational Command Center in Tsaralalàna. Since January, 256 people have been reported missing, 175 of whom have been found. The Minister noted that 74% of these disappearances were due to family issues, and clarified that while 35 bodies have been found since the start of the year, only nine are directly linked to the recent kidnapping-related disappearance cases.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-25 06:08:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/cas-de-disparition-trente-dossiers-en.html