| Rasata Rafaravavitafika | |
| Office: | Minister of Foreign Affairs |
| Term Start: | 15 January 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Yvette Sylla |
| Residence: | Madagascar |
Rafaravavitafika RASATA, 36, is a diplomat and Malagasy politician who was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar on January 14, 2024. She is the 5th and youngest woman to hold this position in the history of Malagasy diplomacy.
Before her appointment as Minister, RASATA Rafaravavitafika worked within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a number of years, as Chief of Staff, Spokesperson, and Director of Economic Expansion.[1] At her swearing-in, she said that her priorities would be the promotion of economic diplomacy, the participation of the Malagasy diaspora in the country's development, and promoting the country's image overseas.[2] She met with US Ambassador Claire Pierangelo on 5 February,[3] before attending the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth.[4]
She holds a PhD in International Relations and Diplomacy (a Doctorate in English) from the Centre d'Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques (CEDS) in Paris.She completed a Master's degree in "International Public Service" at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Internationales (HEI-HEP) in Paris in 2012, followed by further studies at the Ecole Nationale d'Administration de Madagascar (ENAM) in 2016.She earned a degree in Public Law and Political Science from the Catholic University of Madagascar (UCM) in 2011.
Throughout her diplomatic career, RASATA Rafaravavitafika has introduced innovative ideas that have shaped Madagascar's foreign policy. Based on the findings of her PhD research, completed in 2019, she spearheaded the expansion of the Ministry's external actions to include a new focus on promoting the Madagascar brand. She has also played a key role in enhancing the Ministry's engagement in economic diplomacy. Her contributions include: