Travel Warning Issued Amid Turmoil in Madagascar
Mathias Rongved, a senior adviser at Norway’s Foreign Ministry, confirmed to Nettavisen that a travel warning was officially issued on September 27. On the same day, messages were dispatched to Norwegians located on the island who had registered with the Reiseklar app or on reiseregistrering.no.
In an email to Nettavisen, Rongved noted, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received any specific requests for consular assistance from Norwegian travelers.” He also mentioned that registration is voluntary, which complicates the Ministry’s ability to accurately gauge the number of Norwegians in Madagascar—currently, around 80 have registered.
Norwegian Youth Caught in Attempted Coup
Nineteen-year-old Sienna Dobbing from Nordstrand is navigating this unsettling landscape in Madagascar alongside her best friend, Marie Espeland. Sienna shared via email that her trip was meant to be a transformative experience before she joins the military in January.
Though they are staying on a small island just outside the capital, Antananarivo, Sienna has felt the impact of the country’s state of emergency. “In just one day, the sea went from bustling with boats to eerily quiet—we found ourselves stranded on Nosy Komba. Even here, access to water is limited, and we often go days without a shower. On top of that, there’s minimal connectivity and no electricity,” she recounted.
Navigating Uncertainty
Information has been scarce for the friends. “I didn’t even learn what was going on until I reached a spot with internet access. I received a notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but beyond that, I struggled to find news. The only thing I knew was that there were demonstrations in the capital until last night. I’m now relying on social media for updates.”
Originally, Sienna and Marie had planned to remain in Madagascar until November 13, but with growing concerns, they have rescheduled their flight to next Thursday. “It’s a tough choice to make, but after speaking with other travelers and realizing the lack of information, we decided it was best to go home,” she explained.
Political Unrest in Madagascar
In a significant political move, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved the National Assembly following weeks of mounting protests across the nation. Reports indicate that demonstrators are calling for Rajoelina’s resignation, a demand he has yet to acquiesce. The announcement of the Assembly’s dissolution was made through a Facebook post from the presidential office on Tuesday.
At the end of September, Rajoelina dismissed the Prime Minister and the entire government in response to the unrest. He claimed on Monday that he had to relocate for his own safety, and while his whereabouts remain unclear, French media suggests he may have fled the country.
These protests, largely led by young people, were initially sparked by frustrations over power outages, water shortages, pervasive poverty, and inadequate investments in education. Recently, a powerful military faction that had previously supported Rajoelina’s rise to power in 2009 has joined the demonstrations. Furthermore, reports indicate that police forces are shifting their allegiance to the protesters.
As the situation continues to evolve, the people of Madagascar are grappling with uncertainty, and travelers like Sienna face difficult decisions amid the turmoil.