History

According to oral tradition, the “Vazimba” would be the origin of Malagasy people. The investigations show show that the first inhabitants of the island were Malaya Indonesian, Arabic and African origin.

Since the beginning of our era, several waves of immigrants followed one another. The first immigrants were the Malaya– Indonesian who arrived about the 12th century A.D. They intermixed with the Vazimbas. They brought with them tarot, rice cultivation, houses built on piles and outrigger canoe. Then came the Africans, they taught the first inhabitants cattle breeding (zebus, goats and chicken), slush-and-burn cultivation and the age group system. Arabs and Persians brought with them the weaving of mohair rugs and the famous « Sorabe », the first Malagasy writing. The first Europeans (Portuguese, Dutch, the English, the Danish, the Norwegians) arrived at the beginning of the 17th century. In the ensuing 300 years, Europeans passed and came back to Madagascar to get their water and food provisions but also to trade for slaves.
 
By the 17th century, there were a number of indigenous population groups and structured political entities. The most powerful were the Merina kingdom in the central highlands of Madagascar, and the Sakalava in the coasts. But the latter’s kingdom, weakened by quarrel over succession, was subjugated to the Merina king, Andrianampoinimerina (1745 – 1810). 

By the time of his death, his son Radama I (1810–1828) succeeded him. The English, based in Mauritius, proposed its aid to the new King. They have introduced Protestantism and opened schools. They also modernized and equipped the Merina Army with guns and weapons. The king carried over his father’s policy to unify Madagascar. After his death, his wife Ranavalona I (reigned 1828 – 1861) came to the throne. During her reign, a strong anti-European culture started to emerge : the missionaries were persecuted, treaties with the United Kingdom were repudiated. The French seized this opportunity to return to the country and this with the help of their negotiator “Jean Laborde”. The rivalry between the English and the French grew stronger. Accused of plotting against the queen, French were expelled from the island but they will came back three years later. Radama II (reigned 1861 – 1863), Radama I and Ranavalona I’s son, succeeded to his parents. Encouraging the French to return to Madagascar, he was assassinated a few time later.
 
Husband of the three successive queens of Madagascar, Rasoherina (reigned 1863–1868), Ranavalona II (reigned 1868–1883), Ranavalona III (reigned 1883–1897), the prime minister Rainilaiarivony controlled the government. And expanded christianism and schooling. Following the Berlin agreement in 1885, Zanzibar were assigned to the British and Madagascar to the French. In 1895, French soldiers annexed the royal palace and the last queen Ranavalona III was sent to exile in the Reunion Island. In 1896, Monarchy and feudal system were abolished, the slavery abolished, Madagascar belonged to the French Colonial Empire. Revolted, Malagasy people founded anti-colonial resistance led by a secret society called « Vy – Vato – Sakelika » (Iron – Stone – Ramification). Suppressed by the French in 1916, it remains a reference for the national conscience.

After the World Wars, indigenous political unrests increased. In 1947, a nationalist armed uprising was crushed in the eastern part of the country. On the side, the French made some considerable efforts to start the economy through roads and railways construction. Madagascar became an autonomous state within the French Community. On the night of 29 March 1947, uprising broke out. She stopped on the October 14, 1958 when the Malagasy Republic was proclaimed under Philibert Tsiranana. On June 26 1960, France granted the independence to Madagascar. It’s the beginning of privileged relations between Madagascar and France. The same year, Madagascar became member of UN and later member of OAU.

In 1972 after Tsiranana’s re-election, discontented students turned into a lengthy general strike. An order to shoot at demonstrators was given ; an unprecedented popular uprising sparked off ; the City Hall was burnt up. President Tsiranana’s opponents reproached him for his authoritative and corrupt neo-colonialist policy. On May 18, 1972, the president handed power to the Gen. Gabriel Ramanantsoa, which develop a policy in favour of the use of Malagasy.

In June 1975, the Republic of Madagascar was restored, the Lieutenant-Commander Didier Ratsiraka nationalized most of the economy and moved further towards socialism. This economic difficulties which sparked off protests. Every coup was crushed.

Following strong protests and a number of strikes, the president accepted to democratize the regime. In 1992, a new constitution was voted, allowing the president to appoint a prime minister without informed the National Assembly. In 1993, President Zafy Albert was elected through an universal suffrage. The parliament impeached him in 1996 by bringing about early elections. Didier Ratsiraka was then re-elected to continue on his fourth term and he was taking the power until 2001.

In 2001, the presidential election opposing Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana marked the beginning of a political crisis. Supported by the whole population, Marc Ravalomanana claimed victory over the incumbent president and proclaimed himself president of the Republic on February 22, 2002. A recount on May 06, 2002, declared Ravalomanana the winner. Rejected those results, Didier Ratsiraka refused to give in and made a fuss all over Madagascar. In many occasions, the OAU hooked up to force the two parties to hold a new election. On June 26, 2002, Marc Ravalomanana is recognized as the legitimate President of the Republic of Madagascar by the United States ensued by France on July 03, 2002. In July, former president Ratsiraka fled the island away and never came back. Marked by the need to reform the economy and the fight against economic crisis and industrial activity recession, Marc Ravalomanana made roads construction and the improvement of education his priorities.