PORT LOUIS, Mauritius — Authorities in Mauritius have arrested Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a close aide to ousted Madagascan president Andry Rajoelina, on allegations of laundering over 7.3 billion Mauritian rupees ($163 million) through local assets, the country’s Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) confirmed on Friday.
Ravatomanga, who fled to Mauritius following Rajoelina’s dramatic exit from Madagascar amid youth-led protests earlier this month, was detained while receiving treatment at a private clinic in Port Louis, officials said.
“The FCC has reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Ravatomanga, while being involved in the management of several entities in Mauritius, was in possession of property suspected to represent the proceeds of criminal activity,” an FCC spokesperson told TRT Afrika, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The spokesperson added that the arrest followed weeks of intelligence-led investigations into suspicious financial transactions linked to offshore accounts and real estate acquisitions.
Ravatomanga’s lawyer, Siddartha Hawaldar, confirmed the arrest but declined to comment on the details of the case, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
The arrest comes amid heightened political tension in Madagascar following Colonel Michael Randrianirina’s swearing-in as president last Friday, days after lawmakers impeached Rajoelina for abandoning the country during mass protests.
On Monday, Randrianirina named Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, a prominent businessman and consultant, as the new prime minister — a move aimed at stabilising the fragile political landscape.
Ex-president Rajoelina, who remains in exile, has rejected his impeachment and denounced the takeover, describing it as a “military coup.” Despite the backlash, the High Constitutional Court ratified Randrianirina’s ascension within hours of the power shift, deepening divisions among Madagascar’s ruling elite.
Ravatomanga, a wealthy businessman and media mogul, was widely regarded as one of Rajoelina’s closest confidants, controlling several companies that operated across the Indian Ocean islands. His arrest is being interpreted as a major blow to Rajoelina’s financial and political networks abroad.
Mauritius, a regional financial hub, has in recent years stepped up anti-money laundering enforcement following international pressure to curb illicit financial flows.
If convicted, Ravatomanga could face up to 20 years in prison under Mauritian anti-corruption laws.
The case underscores the widening fallout from Madagascar’s political upheaval, with both governments and financial regulators across the region now scrutinising networks linked to the former regime.
As investigations intensify, sources close to the FCC said more arrests could follow, particularly targeting intermediaries who allegedly helped channel funds between Antananarivo and offshore entities in Port Louis.
For now, Ravatomanga remains under police guard at the clinic, awaiting a formal court appearance expected early next week.
