 Madagascar - national flag
The flag of Madagascar was officially hoisted in 1958. It is based on the red
and white flags of the ancient indigenous dynasties. A large part of
Madagascar's population comes from immigrants from Southeast Asia, and the flag
is flown at the flag of Indonesia. The green color was added and represents the
coastal population. Today, white stands for purity, red for sovereignty, and
green for hope.
- Countryaah:
What does the flag of Madagascar look like? Follow this link, then you will
see the image in PNG format and flag meaning description about this country.
Madagascar - history
The first residents of Madagascar were
probably Malay and Polynesian seafarers, who from approximately The 500's came to the
island via East Africa. Later, Afro-Arab peoples arrived who, unlike the first
settlers who chose the highlands, mainly settled in the coastal areas.
In 1500, the first Europeans arrived in Madagascar, thus being involved in
the slave and arms trade. In the early 1600's. a number of kingdoms had arisen,
the most important of which were antaisaka, antemoro, betsileo and merina. The
Kingdom of Merina was united under Andrianampoinimerina, who ruled
1787-1810. Under his son, Radama I (regent 1810-28), the Merin Empire expanded
and gained control of most of the island. Radama was supported by the British in
Mauritius, and European, not least British missionaries then played a crucial
role in the development of the island. A large part of the island's residents
became Protestants, at the same time as French Jesuitsgot part of the coastal
population converted to Catholicism. This laid the groundwork for the split
between the predominantly black coastal populations and the more Indonesian
highland populations, and it has since been a central political issue.
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At the end of his reign, Radama broke with the British and began a policy of
isolation, which was further strengthened under the rule of Queen Ranavalona I
(1828-61). Her government conducted an experiment unique to Africa in early
industrialization, which included mining, the metal industry (firearms) and
the manufacture of gunpowder, glass, soap and paper. When production failed to
become independent of state forced and slave labor, the experiment collapsed
under Radama II (regent 1861-63), and Europeans again had a growing influence on
Madagascar's development. In 1868, the Kingdom of Merina concluded an agreement
with France that gained control of most of NW-Madagascar, and in 1896 the island
became a French colony. General Joseph Gallienibecame French governor general,
abolished slavery and sent the Queen of Merina into exile. It was not until 1904
that all opposition to French supremacy was suppressed, and the Merarin Empire
was integrated into the French economy.
During World War I, a nationalist movement arose against the French colonial
regime, which in turn sought in vain to counter nationalism by setting up an
advisory body on the island. The British occupation of Madagascar during World
War II further weakened France's position, and in 1946 Madagascar became a
French overseas territory, whereby the island obtained representation in
the French Parliament. In 1947-48, the marina people, who considered themselves
the island's elite, led a revolt against French rule that cost over 10,000
lives. The uprising deepened the division between the coastal population and the
highland population.
It was not until 1956 that France allowed political activity in Madagascar,
and to counter the dominance of the marina population, France encouraged the
coastal population to form their own party. In 1957, the Social Democratic Party (PSD)
was formed under the leadership of Philibert Tsiranana. In 1959 he became the
country's first president, and the following year Madagascar became
independent. The main opposition party, the left-wing Parti congrès de
l'indépendance de Madagascar, was predominantly supported by the marina
population.
Tsiranana pursued a pro-Western policy, but despite a major election victory
in the 1972 presidential election, had to hand over power to General Gabriel
Ramanantsoa when violent demonstrations triggered a political crisis. A
referendum in 1972 gave Ramanantsoa an overwhelming endorsement, after which he
abolished the constitution. Economic problems and ethnic conflicts made it
difficult for Ramanantsoa to control the military, which in coup-like
circumstances in 1974 took power under Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava. However,
he was assassinated only six days after taking power. In 1975, former Foreign
Minister Didier Ratsiraka becamehead of state, and he implemented a socialist
policy under which banks and key industries were nationalized. Madagascar then
became more closely associated with the Soviet Union in particular. Ratsiraka
was re-elected in 1982 and 1989, but at the same time the opposition and
economic problems grew.
The fall of communism in Eastern Europe further weakened Ratsiraka, who
sought help in the West. In 1990, a formal multi-party system was introduced. In
1992, Ratsiraka lost the presidential election to Albert Zafy
(1927-2017). Violent unrest in northern Madagascar in particular and political
instability weakened Zafi's reign, and in 1996 he was forced to resign. In the
presidential election that year, Ratsiraka narrowly won over Zafy, and Ratsiraka
chose to continue the pro-Western policy that had been pursued since the early
1990's.
The constitution was amended in 1998 so that the country became a federation
with great autonomy for the six provinces. In the late 1990's, Madagascar
experienced several years of economic growth, but in 2002, the country was
plunged into a political crisis, which led to economic decline. The cause of the
crisis was a presidential election that ended in a deadlock between two
candidates, President Didier Ratsiraka and opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana
(b. 1957). Both were proclaimed winners and presidents, Ravalomanana
in Antananarivo, where he was mayor, and Ratsiraka in the port city
of Toamasina.. Supporters of Ratsiraka blocked Antananarivo from the rest of the
country with roadblocks for several months. The political crisis continued after
the country's Constitutional Court (High Constitutional Court) declared
Ravalomanana the winner, and four provinces in retaliation threatened to declare
independence. In July 2002, Ratsiraka fled to France. In his first years as
president after 2002, Ravalomanana liberalized the country's economy, resulting
in increased economic growth but did not solve the poverty
problems. Politically, he led a hard line against former opponents just as he
came to blows with the other parties that had supported him in the 2002
election. In the 2003 local elections, Ravalomanana's party Tiako-I-Madagasikara
(TIM) suffered defeat, after which the president led a more conciliatory policy
towards the opposition.
After months of political unrest sparked by the government's closure of a TV
station owned by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, Ravalomanana resigned in
March 2009, and with military support, Rajoelina took power as head of a
transitional government. At the end of 2013, the long-promised parliamentary
elections were held; here, former finance minister Hery Rajaonarimampiania won
the presidency.
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