Madagascar has announced a 15-day nationwide energy emergency after fuel shortages spread across the country, driven by supply disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The decision, taken following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, grants authorities the ability to implement swift actions aimed at stabilising fuel availability and ensuring the continued delivery of essential public services.
Government officials explained that the declaration comes amid signs of a worsening energy situation, with supply chains affected by rising global oil prices and declining fuel supplies.
“This decision was taken following the observation that the country is facing a deep crisis due to disruptions in energy supply across the island, linked to the conflict in the Middle East,” the cabinet stated.
Reports from local media highlighted severe shortages, with long queues forming at filling stations in multiple cities.
Authorities noted that the emergency status would enable rapid intervention to restore fuel supplies and sustain critical sectors such as transportation, power generation, and healthcare services.
“The declaration of a state of energy emergency allows authorities to take exceptional and urgent measures to restore energy supply and ensure the continuity of public services,” the statement added.
Madagascar’s action underscores the mounting pressure on economies that depend heavily on imports, especially after weeks of instability in global oil markets, particularly around major shipping routes in the Persian Gulf.
Although a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced after the decision, offering some easing of oil prices, experts caution that supply conditions may take time to fully recover.
Ongoing shipping delays, security risks, and cautious tanker operations suggest that fuel distribution will not return to normal immediately, leaving already affected countries vulnerable in the near term.
In several parts of Africa and Asia, governments have reacted to the oil shock by raising fuel prices, introducing rationing, and implementing emergency responses to reduce economic strain.
For Madagascar, which depends largely on imported petroleum, the situation exposes underlying structural challenges, including limited fuel reserves and significant vulnerability to external market disruptions.