Despite concerns over environmental impacts, the Malagasy government is proceeding with the construction of a highway connecting the capital, Antananarivo, to the port of Toamasina, located 260 kilometers away. The project, deemed essential by the government and considered crucial for the country's development, will pass through ecologically sensitive areas like the Anjozorobe Angavo forest and the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga. More than 100 civil society groups have called for a halt to the project, citing the aftermath of recent floods that have devastated local farmers.
The first section of the highway, stretching 80 kilometers from the capital to Anjozorobe, is being funded by the Malagasy government and constructed by the Egyptian company Samcrete Holding. It is expected to be finished by December 2025. This part of the route cuts through the ecologically fragile Anjozorobe-Angavo forest corridor and passes near the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, a UNESCO heritage site connected to the Merina people. The second phase, which will extend the highway to Toamasina, is set to be financed with $325 million from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and is expected to have support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Launched officially at the end of 2022, the project has sparked significant controversy. More than 100 environmental and human rights groups have come together to voice concerns. The Voahary Gasy Alliance, a prominent Malagasy civil society platform led by Ndranto Razakamanarina, has been at the forefront of the protests. At a meeting with government officials, Razakamanarina urged them not to accept "top-down decisions" passively but to push for more sustainable alternatives. Criticism intensified after heavy rainfall in January and February caused severe damage along the construction path. Mudslides flooded rice fields and plains, destroying crops and threatening homes. A statement issued on March 5, 2025, by dozens of local organizations reported that around 500 families had already suffered major losses.
"The project should not lead to violent land seizures, food insecurity, destruction of livelihoods, or irreversible harm to ecosystems," the statement reads, calling for an immediate suspension of construction to allow for more inclusive consultation. Despite the protests, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to the project. Volamiranty Donna Mara, the Minister of Communication and Culture, stated that the highway represents progress toward inclusive and sustainable growth, helping to reduce emissions, improve access to remote areas, and shorten travel times. Minister of Public Works, Richard Rafidison, also defended the project, ensuring that an environmental impact assessment was conducted and that all required standards were met. He acknowledged the siltation of rice fields as "accidental" and confirmed that Samcrete is working on a compensation plan for the affected families.
The government has promised a comprehensive public consultation in November to finalize the route for the next two phases of the project. While preliminary consultations were held online in the past months, critics argue that they lacked transparency and were not sufficiently inclusive. The controversy has also attracted international attention. During the 2024 climate summit in Azerbaijan, 35 Members of the European Parliament wrote to the IMF asking it to reconsider its support for the project, in light of Madagascar’s climate resilience commitments and the fact that EU countries hold about 31% of the shares in the IMF.
Source
https://naturaljustice.org/communique-de-presse-projet-dautoroute-anatananarivo-toamasina/