Malagasy Republic
Malagasy Republic | |||||||||||||||||||
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1958–1975 | |||||||||||||||||||
Motto: Fahafahana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana "Freedom, Fatherland, Progress" | |||||||||||||||||||
Anthem: Tananarive | |||||||||||||||||||
Official languages | Malagasy · French | ||||||||||||||||||
Religion | Christianity · Traditional beliefs | ||||||||||||||||||
Government | Autonomous republic within the French Union (1958–1960) Unitary presidential republic (1960–1975) | ||||||||||||||||||
High Commissioner | |||||||||||||||||||
• 1958–1959 | André Soucadaux | ||||||||||||||||||
President | |||||||||||||||||||
• 1959–1972 | Philibert Tsiranana | ||||||||||||||||||
• 1972–1975 | Gabriel Ramanantsoa | ||||||||||||||||||
• 1975 | Richard Ratsimandrava | ||||||||||||||||||
• 1975 | Gilles Andriamahazo | ||||||||||||||||||
• 1975 | Didier Ratsiraka | ||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | |||||||||||||||||||
• 1958–1959 | Philibert Tsiranana | ||||||||||||||||||
• 1972–1975 | Gabriel Ramanantsoa | ||||||||||||||||||
Legislature | Parliament | ||||||||||||||||||
Senate | |||||||||||||||||||
National Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||
Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||||||||||||
• Established | October 14 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||
• Detachment of the Îles Éparses[1] | April 1, 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||
• Independence | June 26, 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | December 30 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||
Area | |||||||||||||||||||
1961[2] | 587,040 km2 (226,660 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||||
1975[2] | 587,040 km2 (226,660 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||||
Population | |||||||||||||||||||
• 1961[2] | 5,590,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
• 1975[2] | 7,568,577 | ||||||||||||||||||
Currency | Madagascar-Comores CFA franc (1960–1963) Malagasy franc (ariary) (1963–1975) | ||||||||||||||||||
ISO 3166 code | MG | ||||||||||||||||||
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Today part of | Madagascar French Southern and Antarctic Lands |
History of Madagascar |
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The Malagasy Republic (Malagasy: Repoblika Malagasy, French: République malgache) was a state situated in Southeast Africa. It was established in 1958 as an autonomous republic within the newly created French Community, became fully independent in 1960, and existed until the proclamation of the Democratic Republic of Madagascar in 1975.
History
After
A spirit of political reconciliation prevailed in the early 1960s. By achieving independence and obtaining the release of the MDRM leaders detained since the Revolt of 1947, Tsiranana had co-opted the chief issues on which the more aggressively nationalist elements had built much of their support. Tsiranana made plain his intent to maintain strong ties to France and the West in economic, military, and cultural spheres. Not entirely sanguine about this prospect, the opposition initially concurred in the interest of consolidating the gains of the previous decade, and most ethnic and regional interests supported Tsiranana.
Similar to other African leaders during the
A new force on the
Another movement came on the scene in early 1972, in the form of student protests in Antananarivo. A general strike involving the nation's roughly 100,000 secondary-level students focused on three principal issues: ending the cultural cooperation agreements with France; replacing educational programs designed for schools in France and taught by French teachers with programs emphasizing Malagasy life and culture and taught by Malagasy instructors; and increasing access for economically underprivileged youth to secondary-level institutions. By early May, the PSD sought to end the student strike at any cost; on May 12 and 13, the government arrested several hundred student leaders and sent them to Nosy Lava. Authorities also closed the schools and banned demonstrations.
Mounting economic stagnation – as revealed in scarcities of investment capital, a general decline in living standards, and the failure to meet even modest development goals – further undermined the government's position. Forces unleashed by the growing economic crisis combined with student unrest to create an opposition alliance. Workers, public servants, peasants, and many unemployed urban youth of Antananarivo joined the student strike, which spread to the provinces. Protesters set fire to the town hall and to the offices of a French-language newspaper in the capital.
The turning point occurred on May 13 when the Republican Security Force (Force Républicaine de Sécurité – FRS) opened fire on the rioters; in the ensuing melee between fifteen and forty persons were killed and about 150 injured. Tsiranana declared a
The Ramanantsoa military regime could not resolve rising economic and ethnic problems, and narrowly survived an attempted coup d'état on December 31, 1974. The fact that the coup was led by several côtier officers against a Merina military leader underscored the growing Merina/côtier polarization in the military. In an attempt at restoring unity, Ramanantsoa, on February 5, 1975, turned over power to Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava (a Merina with a less "aristocratic" background). Five days later, Ratsimandrava was assassinated, and a National Military Directorate was formed to restore order by declaring martial law, strictly censoring political expression, and suspending all political parties.
The political transition crisis was resolved on June 15, 1975, when the National Military Directorate selected Lieutenant Commander
See also
References
External links
- This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.