What seemed like a routine administrative matter has drawn Madagascar into an international controversy. Five Boeing 777 aircraft, briefly registered with Madagascar’s Civil Aviation Authority for technical ferrying, ended up in the fleet of a sanctioned Iranian airline. The country’s aviation authority has called the move fraudulent and denies any involvement. The ongoing investigation raises questions about the strength of regulatory mechanisms, especially given already strained diplomatic ties between Madagascar and the United States.

An alert from French aviation news outlet Le Journal de l’Aviation on Tuesday, July 22, reported that "five Boeing 777-200ER aircraft discreetly entered Iran on July 15 from Siem Reap (Cambodia), having been temporarily registered in Madagascar (5R) for their ferry flight." Several international media outlets, including Le Monde, later picked up the information. Early details indicated the aircraft, initially said to be headed to Kenya for maintenance, are now operating within the fleet of Mahan Air, a private Iranian airline under U.S. sanctions.

Procedure Initially Overseen by Madagascar’s Civil Aviation Authority

Madagascar’s Civil Aviation Authority, or ACM, acknowledges issuing a Provisional Registration Certificate, or CIP, on January 17, 2025, to UDAAN Aviation. The certificate was understood to allow the ferrying of five Boeing 777 aircraft to an approved maintenance facility in Kenya, subject to physical inspections. ACM specifies that the aircraft never landed in Madagascar, as the procedure required.

The Malagasy authority stated it was alerted on June 20 by Cambodian officials about suspicious documents involving three of the planes. Upon verification, it was discovered that the certificate’s validity date had been altered without authorization, extended to July 12. ACM asserts the documents used abroad were falsified and has filed a complaint for "forgery," while initiating cooperation with relevant authorities to identify those involved.

In a statement issued on July 25, ACM emphasized that reserving a national prefix does not constitute official registration. An aircraft is only considered registered in the Malagasy registry after a full procedure, formalized by a final certificate.

Unanswered Questions About Actors and Intentions

According to multiple sources cross-checked by Ecofin Agency, the aircraft in question were identified under the prefixes 5R-RIS, 5R-ISA, 5R-HER, 5R-IJA, and 5R-RIJ. They are believed to have transited from China via Cambodia before being seen in Iran in the cities of Mashhad, Chabahar, and Zahedan.

UDAAN Aviation, the company that applied for the initial registration, is described as an India-based entity. However, local media mention a possible affiliate registered in Antananarivo under the name Udaan Potentials Ltd, whose activities reportedly include import export and aviation. At this stage, there is no formal evidence of a direct link between this company and Iranian authorities. The precise role of intermediaries and the conditions under which the documents were falsified also remain unclear.

Several questions arise regarding how the procedure unfolded. What checks did Malagasy authorities perform before issuing the provisional registration certificates? How were the documents altered without being detected sooner? Why were the aircraft not physically presented in Madagascar, as the initial procedure required?

A Tense Trade and Diplomatic Context With the United States

While awaiting further developments and the answers they may bring, the incident comes at a time of heightened trade tensions between Madagascar and the United States. In early April, Washington imposed a new customs regime targeting several African countries. Malagasy exports are now subject to a 47% tariff, one of the highest announced. The country is among the leading textile suppliers from sub-Saharan Africa to the U.S. market, with more than 400,000 jobs affected. Beyond textiles, Madagascar also exports vanilla and mineral resources to the U.S.

The U.S. measure, presented as a response to tariff imbalances, has raised uncertainties over the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, which traditionally exempts various African products, especially garments, from customs duties. In April, South African Trade Minister Parks Tau indicated that African countries and the United States would "discuss in June or July 2025" the future of AGOA, currently set to expire in September 2025.

In such a context, the emergence of a case affecting the integrity of administrative procedures is likely to draw particular attention from trade partners. The outcome of ongoing investigations will likely shape Madagascar’s room for maneuver on the international stage.