Maritime Security in the Western Indian Ocean: Regional Governance Challenges and International Cooperation Surrounding Madagascar’s EEZ

Abstract

Georges Solofoson and Patricia Rakotoarisoa

Madagascar’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), estimated at approximately 1.14 million km2, constitutes one of the most vast and strategic maritime spaces in the Western Indian Ocean. This maritime expanse represents a major asset for national economic development, owing to its potential in fisheries resources, marine biodiversity, and prospects related to the blue economy. However, this vast EEZ also exposes Madagascar to a multiplicity of transnational maritime threats—notably Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, maritime trafficking, transnational organized crime, risks of residual piracy, as well as growing environmental threats. In this context, maritime security cannot be viewed solely through the lens of national sovereignty, rather, it must be integrated into a framework of regional governance and international cooperation. This article analyzes the maritime security challenges surrounding Madagascar’s EEZ through the prism of regional governance and international cooperation mechanisms within the Western Indian Ocean. It employs a qualitative approach based on documentary analysis, an examination of legal and institutional frameworks, and a comparative study of the experiences of other coastal and island states facing similar challenges. The findings highlight that, despite the existence of multiple regional and international frameworks, maritime governance remains fragmented and characterized by capacity asymmetries, institutional constraints, and a deficit in operational coordination. Nevertheless, international cooperation emerges as an essential strategic lever for information sharing, capacity building, and the harmonization of normative frameworks. The article concludes that strengthening maritime security around Madagascar’s EEZ requires an integrated approach—combining national governance, regional cooperation, and international partnerships—to ensure the sustainable, secure, and sovereign management of the maritime domain.

PDF