What constitutional framework governs the State in Madagascar?

The Constitution de la 4e République of 11 December 2010 remains the evidenced constitutional reference for Madagascar. The country is described as a unitary and secular republic, although its institutions are operating under a documented transition.

Which national institutions exercise State authority in Madagascar during the current transition?

The main institutions are the head-of-state authority, the Government led by the Prime Minister, the Assemblée Nationale, the Haute Cour Constitutionnelle and the courts. The Senate mandate expired on 18 January 2026, so the Assemblée Nationale is provisionally the sole legislative chamber until a new Senate is established.

Where can people access State administration in Madagascar?

The responsible contact is usually a ministry, prefecture, district, commune or fokontany, depending on the service. Documents, fees and deadlines vary under the applicable sector rules, so the competent institution must be identified for the specific request.

How are public finances and State oversight organized in Madagascar?

The Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances manages the budget, taxation, customs, Treasury and public accounting under the annual Loi de Finances. The Cour des Comptes audits public finance execution, while DGCF, BIANCO, SAMIFIN and the CDBF perform distinct financial, corruption, financial-intelligence and disciplinary functions.

Which State bodies handle public security and disasters in Madagascar?

The Police Nationale handles urban and judicial-police functions, the Gendarmerie Nationale provides military-police and territorial security, and the BNGRC coordinates disaster-risk management and civil protection. Prefectures and districts may coordinate these bodies with the armed forces, courts and territorial authorities.

State in Madagascar

Madagascar is a unitary, secular republic whose constitutional order is still referenced to the Constitution de la 4e République of 11 December 2010. The State operates through national institutions, territorial authorities, public administration, public finance, oversight bodies and security services. Malagasy and French are the official languages, and public services commonly connect people through ministries, prefectures, districts, communes and fokontany. Since the Haute Cour Constitutionnelle found a presidential vacancy on 14 October 2025, Madagascar has operated under a transition; a new 5e République is not yet evidenced as a current constitutional text.

Tip

Treat the State in Madagascar as a network of responsible offices rather than a single contact point. For each request, identify the competent institution, verify the current rule, fee and deadline through an official source, and keep proof of every submission. During the transition, confirm the current authority and institutional designation before relying on constitutional or parliamentary assumptions.

byLova&Tiana

The State in Madagascar, also called the Etat malagasy or Fanjakana Malagasy, is the public constitutional system that exercises authority over the country, provides administration, collects public revenue, manages public services and protects public order. Its main national institutions include the President or current head-of-state authority, the Government led by the Prime Minister, the Assemblée Nationale, the Sénat, the Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (HCC), the courts and the Haute Cour de Justice. The HCC reviews constitutional questions, settles certain institutional conflicts, decides electoral and referendum disputes and officially proclaims results within its jurisdiction. The judicial system includes the Cour Suprême, Cours d’Appel, subordinate courts and the Haute Cour de Justice. The constitutional and institutional situation is transitional. In Decision 10-HCC/D3 of 14 October 2025, the HCC found a presidential vacancy and invited Colonel Michaël RANDRIANIRINA to exercise the functions of Chef d’Etat. Official portals in 2026 use the designation Président de la Refondation. Mamitiana Jeannot Ruffin RAJAONARISON has served as Prime Minister since 15 March 2026, and the Government has 31 members. The refoundation programme and PGE-R provide for national consultation, possible constitutional adaptation, a constitutional referendum and a presidential election. These planned steps do not by themselves establish a new constitutional republic. The Constitution de la 4e République remains the evidenced reference text, while the Senate mandate expired on 18 January 2026 and its legislative and institutional functions ceased; the Assemblée Nationale therefore functions provisionally as the sole legislative chamber until a new Senate is established. Madagascar has national administration and territorial organisation at the same time. The administrative chain runs through Régions, Districts, Communes and fokontany. The Collectivités Territoriales Décentralisées, known as CTD, are the decentralised territorial authorities: Communes, Régions and Provinces. The reviewed official baseline counts 23 Régions, 119 Districts, 1,695 Communes and approximately 18,000 fokontany. A fokontany is a local proximity structure rather than a separate level of decentralised government. Governors, prefects, district chiefs, mayors and local councils have different responsibilities, and administrative units must be distinguished from CTD. A refoundation roadmap refers to 24 regions, but the reviewed primary sources do not settle that discrepancy. People and organisations usually contact the State through the responsible ministry, prefecture, district, commune or fokontany. The exact authority, documents, fee and deadline depend on the service and sector law. Communes and other CTD have administrative and financial autonomy, regulatory powers and local resources from taxes, fees, statutory State shares, grants, donations, patrimony and regulated borrowing. Local budgets and decisions remain subject to legal procedures and State supervision. The Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances manages the national budget, taxation, customs, Treasury and public accounting. State revenue comes from taxes, customs, non-tax income, borrowing and external aid. The annual Loi de Finances and execution documents set the budget framework. The Direction Générale du Contrôle Financier, or DGCF, provides prior financial control and advice, while public procurement follows regulatory procedures. The Cour des Comptes audits the execution of finance laws and evaluates public policies. BIANCO handles corruption prevention, complaints, investigations and declarations of assets or economic interests for covered officials. SAMIFIN analyses financial information connected with money laundering, terrorist financing and illicit financial flows, and the CDBF deals with budgetary and financial discipline. The Constitution protects public freedoms. The Code de la Communication Médiatisée of 2016, modified by Loi 2020-006, provides the principal reviewed framework for media communication. Official information appears through the Présidence, Primature, ministries, Assemblée Nationale, HCC, Journal officiel and institutional websites. Madagascar has no single general freedom-of-information procedure evidenced in the reviewed sources, so access to a document depends on the responsible institution, publication rules and the relevant procedure. Public participation has also appeared through national consultations connected with the refoundation process. Security functions are divided among several bodies. The Ministère des Forces Armées and the State authority protect territorial integrity and public order. The Gendarmerie Nationale combines military-police and territorial security functions, while the Police Nationale handles urban security and judicial-police work. The BNGRC coordinates disaster-risk management and civil protection. In practice, prefectures and districts may coordinate the Army, Gendarmerie, Police, courts and territorial authorities. Ordinary procedures differ from emergency powers, and the applicable authority depends on the incident and location.