SUMMARY
Madagascar gained independence from France in 1960. The Government of Madagascar was led by President Philibert Tsirana until 1972, when popular unrest forced Tsirana to hand over to a leftist military junta. Subsequently, Lieutenant-Commander Didier Ratsiraka assumed the presidency in 1975. He continued a “Malgachisation”, (a process of synthesizing society with their social revolutionary ideals), of the economy, foreign policy and education but enforced an increasingly authoritarian regime until 1993, when opposition leader Albert Zafy was elected President. However, impeachment of Zafy enabled Ratsiraka to return to power in 1996, after winning internationally approved elections.
Nonetheless, presidential elections in December 2001 led to dispute and violent clashes between supporters of Ratsiraka and presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana, after neither candidate achieved an outright victory in the election (see Supporters of Didier Ratsiraka - Supporters of Marc Ravalomanana). Ravalomanana accused Ratsiraka of election fraud and both candidates declared themselves president. By May 2002, the High Constitutional Court ruled in favor of Marc Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka fled to France. Following this, Ravalomana won a second term as president after elections in 2006.
Violent protests in early 2009 erupted after President Ravalomanana shut down TV and radio stations broadcasting criticism and allegations of misappropriating public funds from main opposition leader and mayor of the capital, Andry Rajoelina (see Supporters of Andry Rajoelina - Supporters of Marc Ravalomanana ). Violent repression occurred as the Government attempted to contain the escalating situation (see Government of Madagascar – Civilians). Despite these actions, a bloodless coup transpired and Rajoelina assumed the presidency with support from the military and high court in March 2009. Ravalomanana fled in exile and was later convicted in absentia of murder by a Malagasy court for the deaths of 30 Rajoelina supporters during the 2009 violence. Rajoelina remained interim president whilst several rounds of discussions between him, Ravalomanana, Zafy and Ratsiraka were brokered by the South African Development Community over power-sharing in a transitional unity government and the next elections; however, none of the agreements lasted.
Hery Rajaonarimampianina, an ally of Rajoelina, was subsequently elected and inaugurated as President in January 2014. He was impeached by the legislature in May 2015 for allegations of general misrule and violating the constitution; however the High Constitutional Court overruled this due to a lack of grounds. As of June 2017, the Government of Madagascar functioned under a semi-presidential republic and Rajaonarimampianina remained President.
The Government of Madagascar had an active force of 21 000 to 28 500 military personnel between 1985 and 2015. Its forces consist of an army, navy, air force, secret police and significant paramilitary force; command for all these forces is unified under the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior.
The Government of Madagascar did not have any known links to other actors; although, prior to the withdrawal of French troops in 1973, their presence was reported to have reinforced the government. Its membership of the African Union and Southern African Development Community was suspended as a result of the 2009 presidential crisis and only reinstated after President Rajaonarimampianina was democratically elected into office in 2014.
