Madagascar is Seldom in the News

Henry Srebrnik, [Summerside, PEI] Journal Pioneer

Situated 400 kilometres off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar, at 587,713 square kilometres, is the world’s fourth-largest island. 

It was first settled by Austronesian people who arrived from Borneo, the large southeast Asian island, about 2,000 years ago. The country’s population of 23.8 million includes the more than two million living in the capital, Antananarivo. 

Though there are 18 ethnic groups on Madagascar, Malagasy is spoken throughout the island. French is also an official language.

Malagasy society has long been polarized between the politically and economically advantaged Austronesian highlanders, mainly Betsileo and Merina, and the various peoples, mostly of African origin, along the coasts. 

The Betsileo are Roman Catholics whereas the Merina are Protestants, due to the early 19^th century proselytisation efforts of the London Missionary Society, working under the patronage of Merina King Radama I.

Merina monarchs ruled the island prior to its incorporation into the French Empire, and under French rule they retained their supremacy in education, business, and the professions.

The coastal peoples, known as côtiers, felt deprived of the education, power, and wealth concentrated inland.

In 1895–96, the French annexed the island; the Merina monarchy was abolished in 1897. The island’s population chafed under French rule, and a 1947 uprising killed upwards of 80,000 people.

(One bizarre aside: Following the fall of France in 1940, Nazi Germany briefly considered transporting some four million Jews from Europe to Madagascar.)

The island achieved independence in 1960 as the Malagasy Republic, and Philibert Tsiranana, founder of the Social Democratic Party of Madagascar and the Comoros (PSD), became president. (It reverted to the name Madagascar in 1975.) 

But his pro-French policies ultimately terminated his rule. Following massive protests and strikes, the military ousted him in 1972. After a period of instability, which saw three military men in power, they selected Didier Ratsiraka as head of state in 1975. 

Ratsiraka, who founded his Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar (AREMA), ushered in the isolationist, Marxist-inspired Second Republic, resulting in the rapid collapse of the economy and a sharp decline in living standards. French military and naval forces were expelled from the country and French commercial concerns nationalized.

He also instituted the policy of “Malagachisation,” intended to phase out the use of the French language in public life in favour of Malagasy.             

     

By 1991 Ratsiraka faced growing opposition and, following his government’s attacks on demonstrators, he stepped down. Free multi-party elections were then held, bringing Albert Zafy of the National Union for Democracy and Development (UNDD) to power in a Third Republic in 1993. 

But his tenure was marred by economic decline and allegations of corruption. Also, Zafy’s administration was dominated by Merina, thereby tipping the delicate ethnic balance established under previous regimes. 

This resulted in his impeachment in 1996, and Ratsiraka was voted back into power on a platform of decentralization and economic reforms.

The 2001 presidential election between Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana, the mayor of Antananarivo and candidate of I Love Madagascar (TIM), nearly caused a civil war, as both claimed victory. 

Ratsiraka supporters cut major transport routes from the port city of Toamasina to the capital city, a Ravalomanana stronghold. Ethnic differences also played a role, since Ratsiraka was from the coastal Betsimisaraka tribe, while Ravalomanana was a highland Merina.

After a seven-month standoff, Ravalomanana was declared the winner. Though he won a second term in 2006, by 2009 protests over increasing restrictions on opposition activities resulted in his handing over power to the military. They conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, a member of Young Malagasies Determined (TGV). 

In 2010 a new constitution established a Fourth Republic and elections were held in 2013. The presidency was won by former finance minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina of the New Forces for Madagascar (HVM), who beat 32 other competitors.

The endless political crises have taken a heavy toll on the economy. Madagascar ranks amongst the world’s poorest countries -- 92 per cent of Malagasy live on less than $2 per day. Poverty and the competition for agricultural land have put pressure on the island’s dwindling forests, home to much of its wildlife. Locusts, famine and floods are all disasters recently faced by the country. 

Political instability continues -- lawmakers recently tried to impeach the president. Things will not improve until Madagascar resolves its unstable, and sometimes violent, political system.