HISTORY

Archaeological evidence suggests that Madagascar was uninhabited until about 1500 or 2000 years ago, when the first Indo-Malayan settlers arrived in coast-hugging craft that skirted the Indian Ocean. They brought traditions such as planting rice in terraced paddies, Southeast Asian food crops and linguistic roots buried in the subcontinent. The migration accelerated in the 9th century, when the powerful Hindu-Sumatran empire of Srivijaya controlled much of the maritime trade in the Indian Ocean. 

European arrival & colonisation

Portuguese sailors named the island Ilha de Sao Lourenco, but like subsequent British, Dutch and French fleets they failed to establish a base here. European and North American buccaneers had notably more success, making Madagascar (and especially Ile Sainte Marie) their base in the Indian Ocean during the 17th century.

Powerful Malagasy kingdoms began to develop with the growth of trade with European merchants. Most powerful of all were the Merina of the central highlands, whose chief, Ramboasalama, acquired the weaponry to subdue neighbouring tribes. His son Radama became king in 1810 and, sniffing the winds of fortune, entered diplomatic relations with the British in 1817 and allowed hundreds of Christian missionaries to enter the Merina court. However, his widow and successor, Ranavalona I, nicknamed ‘The Bloodthirsty’, passionately disliked all things vahaza (white); she persecuted the missionaries and ordered the execution of tens of thousands of her Malagasy subjects using barbarous and ingenious methods.

In 1890 the British handed Madagascar over to the French in exchange for Zanzibar. The French captured Antananarivo in 1895 and turned the island into an official colony in 1897. The French suppressed the Malagasy language and insisted that all children were taught French and exams taken in French language, however, they constructed roads, expanded the education network and abolished slavery. Resentment of the French colonial presence grew in all levels of society, and Nationalist movements had developed by the 1920s. Strikes and demonstrations culminated in a revolt in 1947, which the French suppressed after killing an estimated 80, 000 people and sending the rebel leaders into exile. Full independence was achieved in 1960.

Independence

By 1992, free and fair multiparty elections were held, bringing in the democratic Third Republic (1992–2009). Under the new constitution, the Malagasy public elected President Albert Zafy, President Didier Ratsiraka, and most recently President Marc Ravalomanana. This latter was ousted in March 2009 by a popular movement under the leadership of Andry Rajoelina, then mayor of Antananarivo, in what has been widely characterized as a coup d'état. Rajoelina has since ushered in a Fourth Republic and rules Madagascar as the President of the High Transitional Authority without recognition from the international community.

Madagascar has since undergone four major constitutional periods, including a post-colonial First Republic under President Philibert Tsiranana (1960–1972), a Soviet-style socialist,  Second Republic under Admiral Didier Ratsiraka (1975–1991), and a democratic Third Republic under successive presidents Albert Zafy, Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana (1992–2009). Since 1992 the nation has ‘officially’ been governed as a constitutional democracy from its capital at Antananarivo by an elected president who serves a renewable five-year term and is supported by the prime minister he or she nominates. However, following a popular uprising in 2009 instigated by then-mayor of Antananarivo and TGV political party president Andry Rajoelina, Ravalomanana was pressured to resign. Presidential power was then unconstitutionally transferred to Rajoelina with the support of a portion of the military and backed by the French.

A 2010 constitutional referendum ushered in the Fourth Republic in which the nation continues to be managed by Rajoelina's unelected caretaker government known as the High Transitional Authority (HAT). Rajoelina (b. 1974), currently the youngest head of state in Africa, has failed to secure recognition from the international community (except the French), which largely views the current administration as illegitimate and has widely characterized Rajoelina's seizure of power as a coup d'état. We were told that the French backed him against the popular move from the people to change the compulsory French language taught in schools to English on the basis that this would serve the country better internationally - which cannot be denied. This enraged the French who backed the coup.

Rajoelina has no popular support or respect from the people and we were told that he has failed to honour promises of elections, three times, and will probably do so again since we were told by the locals there was no chance he would be elected. We were also told that the people are disgusted by the inaction of the world at large not to do something about it.

Madagascar is a tragedy of an island. Once beautiful, covered largely by forest, largely ruined by man and more recently politics and corruption.  A country that has abundant natural resources should have a rich and prosperous population. As it is, most of the forest has been burned, the population are generally uneducated, are staggeringly poor, and live a subsistence life. In 2010, the population of Madagascar was estimated at around 20 million, 85% of whom live on less than two dollars per day. The government has failed the people totally for at least the last 40 years.  Even the most basic infrastructure (roads between major towns) have been neglected for 40 years (since independence).  It is assumed by the locals that most of the wealth the country should have, goes into the pockets of corrupt politicians.

Outside of the main capital most people live in the most basic wooden shack made from sticks. In the more remote countryside it's like going back in history hundreds of years. No roads, motor vehicles, lights, power, or indeed, fresh water. They make fire by rubbing sticks together and they keep a few cattle (Zebu) and chickens, grow rice or a few vegetables where they can and live a 'hand to mouth existence.

Given that large parts of the country are fertile, with a tropical climate that can grow just about anything, it's tragic that it's claimed the population are now reliant on hand-outs from the West for food aid and there would be widespread starvation if this stopped.