• Madagascar declares 15-day energy emergency amid supply crisis
• Government to take exceptional measures to restore services
• Fuel prices unchanged despite crisis and global cost pressures

Madagascar has declared a 15-day state of emergency in the energy sector on Tuesday, April 7. The measure was adopted during a special Council of Ministers meeting. It is based on Article 61 of the Constitution and Law No. 91-011 of July 18, 1991, relating to exceptional situations.

The official statement said the decision was taken after observing that the country is currently facing a deep crisis linked to disruptions in energy supply across the entire island.

The state of emergency will allow authorities to take exceptional measures to restore energy supply and ensure the continuity of public services. It also aims to prevent any disruption to public order, security, and institutional stability.

Fuel prices maintained despite the crisis

This situation comes amid an energy crisis aggravated by the conflict in the Middle East. According to the government, this is disrupting essential public services and affecting the national economy as well as people’s daily lives.

At the same time, local media reported that the Madagascar Office of Hydrocarbons (OMH) has decided to keep fuel prices unchanged for the month of April. The price of gasoline remains fixed at 4,900 ariary ($1.18) per liter, kerosene at 3,510 ariary, and diesel at 4,660 ariary.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), energy-importing countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are already facing budgetary constraints and limited reserves. These countries are experiencing an increase in their import bills. In sub-Saharan Africa and some low-income countries in the Middle East and South Asia, weak reserves and limited market access make external shocks particularly risky. The increase in prices for fuel, fertilizer, and food is widening deficits and putting pressure on local currencies.

Several countries have implemented measures to address this. In Zambia, the government adopted immediate measures to mitigate the rise in fuel prices. These include a zero VAT rate and the suspension of excise duties on gasoline and diesel imports for a three-month period starting April 1, 2026. In Côte d’Ivoire, fuel prices have been maintained. Since 2017, the state has increased efforts to preserve purchasing power through subsidies on petroleum products and the occasional capping of prices for essential goods.

Ingrid Haffiny