The responsibility for enforcing the law in Madagascar is the responsibility of multiple agencies. The main organizations that perform law enforcement tasks are the Malagasy National Gendarmerie and Malagasy National Police. The Malagasy National Gendarmerie receives assistance in carrying out some of its responsibilities from the Malagasy Armed Forces, who is responsible for combating banditry and cattle theft in rural areas.US Department of State "2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Madagascar" U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/madagascar/, August 23, 2026 Malagasy Law enforcement agencies may also receive assistance from the Malagasy General Directorate of Presidential Security (French: la Direction générale de la Sécurité Présidentielle) in performing investigations into individuals and or organizations who pose a threat to the Malagasy President's safety or the security of the Presidency's assets located in the capital city, Antananarivo and the Provinces.Ratsiraka, Didier (January 29, 1998) "Arrêté n°673/98 du 29 Janvier 1998 Portant organisation générale de la Direction générale de la sécurité présidentielle et fixant les attributions des entités constitutives." Lexxika, Lexxika.com, 2025, https://textes.lexxika.com/lois-malagasy/arrete-n673-98-du-29-janvier-1998-portant-organisation-generale-de-la-direction-generale-de-la-securite-presidentielle-et-fixant-les-attributions-des-entites-constitutives/, Date accessed: October 2, 2026Anadolu Ajansı (July 3, 2026) "Madagascar : la garde présidentielle ouvre le feu sur des drones suivant le convoi du président Randrianirina" AA, Anadolu Ajansı, 2026, https://www.aa.com.tr/fr/afrique/madagascar-la-garde-pr%C3%A9sidentielle-ouvre-le-feu-sur-des-drones-suivant-le-convoi-du-pr%C3%A9sident-randrianirina/3985748, Date accessed: October 2, 2026TASS (April 16, 2026) "Drone swarm batted away at Madagascar presidential palace — spokesman" TASS, TASS, https://tass.com/world/2118111, Date accessed: October 2, 2026 The law enforcement agencies of Madagascar include:
Malagasy National Gendarmerie The Malagasy National Gendarmerie (Malagasy: Zandarimaria Nasionaly; ZN) is a branch of the Malagasy Armed Forces under the Ministry of National Defense and under the direct responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Gendarmerie.Malagasy National Gendarmerie "Missions" Gendarmerie nationale, GN, 2026, https://www.gendarmerie.gov.mg/missions/, Date accessed: August 24, 2026Malagasy National Gendarmerie "Historique" Gendarmerie nationale, GN, 2026, https://www.gendarmerie.gov.mg/historique/, Date accessed: August 23, 2026 It is responsible for performing law enforcement duties in rural areas, protecting government facilities, providing executive protection for members of national and foreign institutions, performing sensitive escort operations, acting as a Provost for the country's military, and running a maritime police contingent.US Department of State "2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Madagascar" U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/madagascar/, August 23, 2026Malagasy National Gendarmerie "Missions" Gendarmerie nationale, GN, 2026, https://www.gendarmerie.gov.mg/missions/, Date accessed: August 24, 2026 The Malagasy National Police has 8,100 personnel.IISS 2025, p. 482 The Malagasy National Gendarmerie was first established on May 14, 1960 by Decree No. 606102 under the name Zandarimaria Nasionaly (Z N), which combined the Madagascar Guard and the Malagasy gendarmes serving in the French gendarmerie.Malagasy National Gendarmerie "Historique" Gendarmerie nationale, GN, 2026, https://www.gendarmerie.gov.mg/historique/, Date accessed: August 23, 2026
Malagasy National Police The Malagasy National Police is a national law enforcement agency overseen by the Ministry of Public Security. Some of it's responsibilities include performing law enforcement tasks in urban areas, maintaining international relations with other countries and international organizations to assist it in fighting against cross-border common crimes, maintaining public order, monitoring and controlling immigration and emigration, and combating cross-border movement of prohibited or regulated people and goods.US Department of State "2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Madagascar" U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/madagascar/, August 23, 2026Malagasy National Police "Missions et objectifs" Ministere de la Securite Publique, Police Nationale Malagasy, 2020, https://www.pn.gov.mg/index.php/missions-et-objectifs/, Date accessed: September 19, 2026 The Malagasy National Police can trace it's roots to the Directorate of the National Police in the Ministry of the Interior, created during the time of the Malagasy Republic, on September 31, 1961.Andrianaivo, Maholy (October 10, 2011) "Fiftieth anniversary of the National Police of Madagascar" La Tribune de Diego et du Nord de Madagascar, Cyber Diego Com, 2025, https://latribune.cyber-diego.com/actualites/506-cinquantenaire-de-la-police-nationale-de-madagascar.html, Date accessed: September 21, 2025
Financial Intelligence Unit The Financial Intelligence Unit of Madagascar (Malagasy: Service de Renseignement Financier Malagasy, SAMIFIN) is a national law enforcement agency that is responsible for combating illicit financial flows linked to money laundering activities, terrorism funding, economic and funding infractions, and organized crime.Financial Intelligence Unit of Madagascar "Acronyms" SAMIFIN for the Economy, SAMIFIN, 2024, https://www.samifin.gov.mg/acronyms, Date accessed: September 20, 20262424.mg News & Features (March 3, 2026) "“Parce que nous échouons si nous poursuivons le trafic de drogue sans poursuivre le blanchiment. «" 2424.mg, 2424.mg, 2020, https://www.2424.mg/parce-que-nous-echouons-si-nous-poursuivons-le-trafic-de-drogue-sans-poursuivre-le-blanchiment/, Date accessed: September 20, 2026 It is subordinate to the President of Madagascar. It was established on July 18, 2007 by Malagasy President Marc Ravalomanana through Decree 2007-510.Financial Intelligence Unit of Madagascar "Home" SAMIFIN for the Economy, SAMIFIN, 2024, https://www.samifin.gov.mg/, Date accessed: September 20, 2026P. David (July 24, 2008) "Madagascar se dote d’un service de renseignement financier" Témoignages, Témoignages, 2026, https://www.temoignages.re/international/madagascar-grande-ile/madagascar-se-dote-d-un-service-de-renseignement-financier,31252#google_vignette, Date accessed: September 20, 2026
Independent Anti-Corruption Bureau The Independent Anti-Corruption Bureau (IACB, French: Bureau Indépendant Anti-Corruption, BIANCO) is an independent national agency that is responsible for preventing corruption by identifying risks in procedures and systems in the public and private sectors, recommending law and procedural reforms and providing advice for improving existing policies and procedures, educating the public about corruption and why it is important to fight it, mobilizing public support to help combat corruption, performing investigations into corruption and related offenses in order to effectively enforce the anti-corruption law. Independent Anti-Corruption Bureau "Mission and Main Activities" Bianco, Bianco, 2025, https://www.bianco-mg.org/en/mission, Date accessed: September 22, 2026 It was founded in September 1, 2004 by Law No. 2004-030 of September 9, 2004.A., Val (August 10, 2004) "Madagascar: Corruption - Bianco opérationnel à partir du 1er septembre !" all Africa, All Africa, 2026, https://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200408100486.html, Date accessed: September 22, 2026 Independent Anti-Corruption Bureau "History" Bianco, Bianco, 2025, https://www.bianco-mg.org/en/story, Date accessed: September 22, 2026
Central Intelligence Service The Central Intelligence Service (CIS, Malagasy: Sampan-draharahan'ny Sampam-pitsikilovana Foibe) is a national intelligence agency that is responsible for the collecting, researching, and using information to inform the President of the Republic to base their decisions on for the protection of the Madagascar's interests, perform judicial indagations into criminal associations related to terrorist activities and similar crimes, establish and maintain operational and technical relations with foreign government services and organizations. It is subordinate to the President of Madagascar.Ravalomanana, Marc; Sylla, Jacques; Razafindralambo, Vola Dieudonné; & Radavidson, Benjamin Andriamparany (July 3, 2003) "Décret n°2003-728 du 03 Juillet 2003 Portant création d’une Direction générale près la Présidence de la République dénommé « Central Intelligences Service » (CIS) et fixant ses missions et attributions." Lexxika, Lexxika.com, 2025, https://textes.lexxika.com/lois-malagasy/decret-n2003-728-du-03-juillet-2003-portant-creation-dune-direction-generale-pres-la-presidence-de-la-republique-denomme-central-intelligences-service-cis-et-fixant-ses-missions-et-attri/, Date accessed: September 28, 2026R.O. (November 19, 2003) "Madagascar: « Central intelligence service » : les terroristes dans la ligne de mire !" allAfrica, AllAfrica, https://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200311190361.html, Date accessed: September 28, 2026Randriamanga, Tsilaviny (November 9, 2025) "DÉSTABILISATION - Le CIS affirme avoir déjoué un coup d’État" L'Express de Madagascar, L'Express de Madagascar, 2026, https://www.lexpress.mg/2025/11/destabilisation-le-cis-affirme-avoir.html, Date accessed: September 28, 2026 It was established on July 3, 2003 during the administration of Malagasy President Marc Ravalomanana.ARRETE n°34478/2023 Portant refonte Structure et Organisation du Central Intelligence Service (CIS) https://cnlegis.gov.mg/uploads/A34478-2023-VF.pdf"The Central Intelligence Service Gets Organized" Africa Intelligence, https://www.africaintelligence.com/southern-africa-and-islands/2004/02/07/the-central-intelligence-service-gets-organized,10116391-bre, Date accessed: September 28, 2026
See also Gendarmerie List of gendarmeries List of law enforcement agencies List of secret police organizations
References
Sources World Police Encyclopedia, ed. by Dilip K. Das & Michael Palmiotto published by Taylor & Francis. 2004, World Encyclopedia of Police Forces and Correctional Systems, second edition, Gale., 2006 Sullivan, Larry E. Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2005.