Maritime Security in the Western Indian Ocean: Regional Governance Issues and International Cooperation around Madagascar's EEZ

Madagascar’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), covering approximately 1.14 million square kilometers, represents one of the largest and most strategic maritime spaces in the Western Indian Ocean. This vast maritime area constitutes a major asset for national economic development, given its significant potential in fisheries resources, marine biodiversity, and blue economy prospects. However, the size and strategic location of Madagascar’s EEZ also expose the country to a wide range of transnational maritime threats, including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, maritime trafficking, transnational organized crime, residual risks of piracy, and growing environmental threats. In this context, maritime security cannot be addressed solely through the lens of national sovereignty, but must be embedded within a broader framework of regional governance and international cooperation. This article analyzes the maritime security challenges surrounding Madagascar’s EEZ through the perspective of regional governance and international cooperation mechanisms in the Western Indian Ocean. It adopts a qualitative approach based on documentary analysis, the examination of legal and institutional frameworks, and comparative insights drawn from other coastal and island states facing similar challenges. The findings indicate that, despite the existence of multiple regional and international mechanisms, maritime governance remains fragmented and characterized by capacity asymmetries, institutional constraints, and limited operational coordination. Nevertheless, international cooperation emerges as a key strategic lever for information sharing, capacity building, and the harmonization of legal and policy frameworks. The article concludes that strengthening maritime security around Madagascar’s EEZ requires an integrated approach that combines national governance, regional cooperation, and international partnerships in order to ensure the sustainable, secure, and sovereign management of maritime space.