Located off the southeast coast of Africa, Madagascar is the fourth largest island on this planet. Having developed in isolation, the island nation is famed for its distinctive wildlife.
Historically, the financial system has been primarily based on the cultivation of paddy rice, espresso, vanilla and cloves.
But regardless of a wealth of pure sources and a tourism trade pushed by its distinctive surroundings, it stays one of many world’s poorest and is closely depending on overseas assist. It has additionally confronted devastating cyclones which have additional added to financial hardships.
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has skilled repeated bouts of political instability, together with coups, violent unrest and disputed elections.
The latest coup in 2009 led to 5 years of political impasse, worldwide condemnation and financial sanctions.
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Capital: Antananarivo
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Space: 587,041 sq km
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Inhabitants: 28.8 million
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Languages: Malagasy, French
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Life expectancy: 63 years (males) 68 years (girls)
President: Andry Rajoelina
Businessman Andry Rajoelina took workplace as president in January 2019, ending a decade of political turbulence that started along with his ousting of President Marc Ravalomanana in 2009.
The feud between the 2 males got here to a head that yr, when President Ravalomanana dismissed Mr Rajoelina as mayor of the capital Antananarivo.
The ousted mayor in flip spearheaded a revolt that drove the president into exile. Mr Rajoelina dominated as head of an interim authority that struggled with worldwide sanctions till 2014, when an typically tough strategy of lodging between rival political camps led to him ceding energy to elected President Hery Rajaonarimampianina.
Mr Rajoelina then defeated each President Rajaonarimampianina and Mr Ravalomanana in a presidential election in late 2018. He’s anticipated to face for election once more within the November 2023 presidential elections.
The media are highly-politicised and susceptible to affect from their enterprise and politics-linked house owners, says Reporters With out Borders.
The structure does present for freedom of the press, nevertheless, Freedom Home says this assure has been undermined by legal libel legal guidelines and different restrictions.
Radio is the primary medium for information, on account of excessive ranges of illiteracy.
Some key dates in Madagascar’s historical past:
c. 350-550AD – First settlers attain Madagascar, making it one of many final main landmasses on Earth to be settled by people.
Seventh-Ninth Centuries – Arab merchants attain the island. Madagascar turns into an necessary buying and selling hub connecting ports of the Indian Ocean.
eleventh Century – Bantu-speaking migrants from southeast Africa arrive, together with south Indian Tamil retailers.
Sixteenth-Seventeenth Centuries – Portuguese and French set up buying and selling posts.
c 1540-1897 – Merina kingdom, or Kingdom of Madagascar involves dominate a lot of the island by the 18th Century.
1818 onwards – London Missionary Society sends missionaries to the island.
1828-61 – Queen Ranavalona I responds to growing political and cultural encroachment on the a part of Britain and France by banning Christianity and pressuring most foreigners to depart.
1883 – France invades Madagascar in 1883 within the first Franco-Hova struggle. Madagascar cedes the northern port city of Antsiranana or Diego Suarez to France.
1890 – UK accepts the imposition of a French protectorate on the island, however the authorities of Madagascar resists.
1895 – French forces march on Antananarivo, shelling the town and main Queen Ranavalona III to give up.
1896-97 – France declares Madagascar a colony and sends the royal household into exile. The formal declaration of a colony sees a 15 yr “pacification” marketing campaign by French troops to beat resistance.
1939-45 – World Conflict Two.
1940 – France occupied by German forces. Madagascar is underneath Vichy French administration. The occupation of France through the struggle tarnishes the colonial administration’s status and encourages the rising independence motion.
1942 – Battle of Madagascar. UK forces seize the Vichy French-controlled island with the intention to deny it ports to the Japanese.
1946 – Madagascar turns into French abroad territory.
1947-49 – Malagasy Rebellion. Nationalists launch assaults on French army bases. France responds by bringing as much as 30,000 troops to violently suppress the rebels. Some 600 French troops die within the preventing, whereas 11,000-100,000 Malagasy civilians are killed.
1960 – Madagascar wins independence, with Philibert Tsiranana as president.
1972 – Financial stagnation triggers protests Tsiranana arms over energy over to a army council.
1975 – Didier Ratsiraka appointed head of state and president of a brand new ruling physique, the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC). He guidelines for the following 26 years.
1992 – Democratic reforms usher in new structure.
2001 – After a disputed presidential election, Ratsiraka flees to France.
2009 – Cold coup leads to financial sanctions.
2013 – Democratic elections fail to carry political stability, with government pitted towards legislature.
2018 – Andry Rajoelina wins the presidential election.
