Two weeks ago, I’ve been called by a friend telling that he had withdrawed money from an ATM and then noticed that the banknotes were different than usual. He explained that it  wasn’t the Governor’s signature and there was no transcription into Malagasy Francs (MGF) on the banknotes.

Alerted by some today’s tweets, I think I should share the little thing I know about it for now.

to mavana

nouveaux billets 10’000 Ar ne portent pas de signature du gouverneur Banque à #Madagascarhttp://bit.ly/2hexjZ src orange.mg [New 10,000 Ar banknotes do not bear the governor’s signature]

saveoursmile

So what’s the deal behind those non-complying to central bank MGA money specimen that circulate in #madagascar ?

to mavana

@solofo vola baoritra tena vola.. satria ny fanjakana no mamoaka azy.. sa ahoana? [real or fake banknotes… since it is the Sate which issues them?]

The pic above shows what my friend tried to tell me on the phone. Wanting to know more about it,  I went on the Central Bank of Madagascar’s site and this is what I’ve discovered.

To start with I know nothing about the banknotes without signature. I haven’t seen such banknote yet.

About the signature (see blue arrows on pic above), the one on top is Gaston Ravelojaona‘s signature, the former Governor. The second signature is Frédéric Rasamoely‘s, the current Governor. See Central Bank of Madagascar‘s official announcement related to this.

La Banque Centrale de Madagascar porte à la connaissance du public que des coupures de Ar 2000, portant la signature du Gouverneur RASAMOELY Frédéric, ont été mises en circulation depuis le début du mois d’Octobre 2007. [The Central Bank of Madagascar announces to the public that  Ar 2,000 banknotes bearing the signature of the Governor RASAMOELY Frédéric , have been  issued since the beginning of October 2007]

La Banque Centrale précise que les autres billets portant la signature du Gouverneur RASAMOELY Frédéric seront également mis en circulation au cours des prochains mois. [The Central Bank of Madagascar specifies that the other banknotes bearing the signature of the Governor RASAMOELY Frédéric will also be issued for the next months]

I think that the current banknotes are not fake but the Central Bank of Madagascar has failed to make an official annoucement concerning the change (no transcription into Malagasy Francs – see red arrows on pic above), – I’m wondering why??? though it is a very “big mistake”. I hope they will have it fixed soon. Due to the political turmoil, this situation has created a lot of rumors and psychosis. For now, see  the applicable banknotes on Central Bank of Madagascar’s site.