Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the young Ho Chi Minh, from whom he got many of his communist
ideologies.
Postwar Madagascar experienced a nationalist backlash, with resentment towards the
French culminating in a rebellion in March 1947. The rebellion was eventually subdued
after an estimated 90,000 Malagasy were killed. During the 1950s nationalist political
parties were formed, the most notable being the Parti Social Démocrate (PSD) of Philibert
Tsiranana, and reforms paved the way to independence.
On 14 October 1958 the Malagasy Republic was proclaimed, becoming an autonomous
state within the French Community. After a period of provisional government, a constitu-
tion was adopted in 1959 and full independence was achieved on 26 June 1960, with Tsir-
anana the country's first president.
Following the euphoria, however, discontent with the country's ongoing ties with France
and its poor economic performance grew. Following uprisings in 1971 and 1972, Tsiranana
wasforcedtoresignandhandoverpowertohisarmycommander,GeneralGabrielRaman-
antsoa.
The Third Republic
In February 1975, after several coup attempts, General Ramanantsoa stepped down and
was replaced by Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava, who was assassinated within a week
of taking office. The rebel army officers who had announced the military takeover were
quicklyroutedbyofficersloyaltoRamanantsoa,andanewgovernmentheadedbyAdmiral
Didier Ratsiraka, a former foreign minister, came to power.
Ratsiraka attempted radical political and social reforms in the late 1970s, severing all
ties with France and courting favour with former Soviet-bloc nations.
In March 1989, Ratsiraka was returned for a third seven-year term in an election that
some regarded as questionable. It sparked riots, and 1991 was marked by widespread
demonstrations demanding the president's resignation. The country ground to a halt as a
result of general strikes and riots, and protests left dozens dead.
In late October 1991, an agreement was signed with opposition politicians in preparation
for popular elections and the birth of the so-called 'Third Republic'. However, Ratsiraka
still refused to step down. In July 1992 there was an attempted civilian coup, but the rebels
failed to gain popular support and were forced to surrender.
Elections were finally held in 1993 and resulted in victory for opposition candidate Pro-
fessor Albert Zafy,ending Ratsiraka'sfirst 17years in power.After trying to sack his prime
minister, Zafy was unexpectedly impeached by his parliament in July 1996 for abuse of
authority. New presidential elections were called in November 1996 and to the surprise of
everyone, including international monitors, Ratsiraka (who had been in exile in France for
the previous 19 months) won.
