MADAGASCAR

 

 

 

History

 

 

In the downtown

 

A malagasy traditionnal woman

 

 

Since the Independance up to now

 

Philibert Tsiranana governed from 1959 to 1972, during this time the Island became more and more poor. In 1972, a big manifestation exploded: many people were killed but the government was changed and the Amiral Didier Ratsiraka became the President. He instituted a socialist dictatorship. The fall of the country in the poverty kept going on. Twenty years after the manifestation of 1972 , another one exploded. This time the student were against the reforms of the government but because some students dead during the manifestation the whole population were on strike. This one was particularly bleeding. Another president was elected: Professor Albert Zafy. But he stayed only four years at the head of the government and in 1997 Didier Ratsiraka was president again. The 16 december 2001, an election was done to choose the new president, Didier Ratsiaraka was opposed to Marc Ravalomanana. The result of the election was contested and this caused a new strike of the people. The strike began in February 2002, ten years after the bleeding manifestation of 1992. this strike lasted 8 months. The actual president is Marc Ravalomanana. These forty years after the Independence were marked by strikes and falling down in poverty. Nowadays, Madagascar is the fourth biggest Island in the world, but it is also the fourth poorest country.