Madagascar Stade Barea renovation and inquiry

In Madagascar, efforts to renovate Stade Barea to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards have transitioned from planned infrastructure upgrades to a major political investigation.

Initially, the government announced plans to begin renovations in September, focusing on the pitch, changing rooms, and stands to allow the national team to host international matches at home. However, the stadium failed to secure definitive CAF homologation, forcing the national team and local clubs to play international matches abroad. This has resulted in high logistical costs estimated between $70,000 and $120,000 per match.

Consequently, a parliamentary inquiry has been launched to investigate the stadium's renovation budgets allocated between 2019 and 2025. While previous figures suggested an investment of $77 million, National Assembly President Siteny Thierry Randrianasoloniaiko noted that the investment reached approximately $120 million. A parliamentary commission is now examining public procurement and bidding processes to ensure transparency regarding these projects.