October 26, 2025 | 11:34 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The military regime in Madagascar has revoked the citizenship of former President Andry Rajoelina a few days after he was overthrown, while an ally of his was arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
In a decree dated Friday, October 24 as quoted by Al Arabiya, Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo stated that Rajoelina lost his citizenship after becoming a French citizen. According to the country's law, "a Malagasy citizen who has reached adulthood and voluntarily obtained foreign citizenship loses his Malagasy citizenship."
Rajoelina, 51, left the country earlier this month and went into hiding after the military sided with anti-government protesters and seized power. His whereabouts are unknown.
Businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga was also arrested on Friday in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Mauritius Financial Crime Commission on suspicion of money laundering. Radio France Internationale reported that Ravatomanga was a financier for the former president.
"The FCC has reasonable grounds to believe that Ravatomanga, although involved in managing several entities in Mauritius, owns properties suspected to be the proceeds of criminal activity," the commission said in a statement on Friday night.
The commission has obtained a Criminal Seizure Order on Ravatomanga's personal bank account and his company accounts. The investigation concerns 6.46 billion rupees held by entities under his management, as well as 858.5 million rupees of personal funds, it added.
Ravatomanga denied any wrongdoing. In a written statement, he said the money was lawfully obtained during 30 years of doing business in Mauritius and had been under strict controls by "the most reputable banks."
"The money is lawful and free from any tainted or illegal money," he stated.
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