Madagascar expels French diplomat amid rising tensions

Madagascar has declared a French embassy agent persona non grata and summoned France’s ambassador, in a move that escalates tensions between the two countries.

The Malagasy foreign ministry said on April 28 that it informed Ambassador Arnaud Guillois of the decision, citing alleged destabilization activities and conduct it said was incompatible with diplomatic status. The ministry did not publicly identify the expelled staff member.

Multiple outlets reported the move the same day, including Africanews, 20 Minutes, TRT World and Xinhua. The reports say the government framed the issue as part of an ongoing investigation involving Malagasy and foreign nationals.

The case adds to a period of rising political tension in Madagascar. But the exact evidence behind the decision has not been made public, and neither the French embassy nor the French government had issued a detailed response in the materials reviewed.

The immediate questions are whether France will formally protest the expulsion and whether Madagascar will disclose more about the alleged destabilization activity. For now, the episode signals a sharper diplomatic standoff between Antananarivo and Paris.