Madagascar presentation

• 1. Washington, DCMadagascars Turbulent Political History by trad hop Red for Sovereignty, Green forhope, White for purity.

2. Madagascarlies in the Indian Ocean offthe southeast coast of Africa, oppositeMozambique. Itis the worlds fourth-largestisland, roughly twice the size of Arizona.Madagascar is extremely biologicallydiverse, with as many as 150,000species of flora and fauna that are uniqueto the island. The countrys low-lying coastal area givesway to a central plateau. The once 3. Population: 21,926,221 (July 2011)45% below 15 years70% rural80% under poverty level Religion 52% Traditional beliefs 41% Christian7% Muslim Languages: Formal languages are Malagasy andFrench. 4. Administratively, Madagascar is divided intosix provinces. There is a bicameral legislature. Governed under the constitution of 1992. The president is the head of the state and iselected by popular vote for a five-yearterm, and is eligible for a second term. The major political parties includeAREMA, LEADER, Fihaonana Party, TIM andRPSD The government is headed by a prime 5. The country is divided into 6 Provinces: Antananarivo4,637,000 Fianarantsoa3,366,000 Toamasina2,593,000 Toliary 2,229,500 Mahanjanga1,734,000 Antsiranana 6. Naturalresources: graphite, chromites, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecioustones, mica, fish, hydropower . Agricultureproductions: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products. Industrial productions: meatprocessing, soap, breweries, tanneries, su 7. 1946 - Madagascar becomes an OverseasTerritory of France. 1947 - Thousands are killed during the Frenchrebellion in the east. 1958 - Madagascar votes for autonomy. June 1960 - Madagascar gains independencewith Philibert Tsiranana as president. May 1972 - Huge crowds led by students gatherin Tananarive, the capital, to demand Tsirananasresignation. Power is handed to army chief GenGabriel Ramanantsoa, who heads a provisionalgovernment. June 1975 - Didier Ratsiraka, a militarycommander, becomes head of state. December 1975 - Ratsiraka is elected president 8. Madagascar became aFrench colony in 1896, butregained its independencein 1960. 1975 Didier RatsirakaPresident of the DemocraticRepublic of Madagascar.Reelected in 1982 and1989. Political turmoil in 1991 Election of Albert Zafy in1993 During 1992-93, freepresidential and NationalAssembly elections were 9. August 1991 - Mass demonstrations and civilservice strikes start. Over 100,000 people marchon the presidential palace and the presidentialguard responds with gunfire and grenades. October 1991 - Ratsiraka remains president butrelinquishes power to Albert Zafy. March 1993 - Zafy is electedpresident, defeating Ratsiraka. April 1996 - Thousands demonstrate againstZafy amid calls for a military coup in the capitalcity, Antananarivo. August 1996 - Zafy is impeached on allegations 10. In 1997, in the secondpresidential race, DidierRatsiraka returned tothe presidency The 2001 presidentialelection was contestedbetween the followersof Didier Ratsiraka andMarc Ravalomanana. April 29, 2002 the HighConstitutional Courtannounced MarcRavalomana winner December 2006Presidential Elections 11. February 1998 - Members of theopposition, including Zafy, make an unsuccessfulattempt to impeach Ratsiraka. December 2001 - Ratsiraka faces MarcRavalomanana in the first round of thepresidential election. January 2002 - Daily protests pressureRatsirakas government for a recount ofpresidential election ballots. Madagascars HighConstitutional Court certifies that Ravalomananagot 46.2 percent of the votes and Ratsiraka got40.8 percent - neither has the required majorityof 51 percent. A runoff is set within two monthsbut thousands of Ravalomananas supporterstake to the streets in protest. Ravalomanana 12. March 2002 - Ravalomanana forms a rivalgovernment and calls an end to the nationalstrike. April 2002 - The Supreme Court annuls thedisputed results of the December 2001presidential election and hands the presidency toRavalomanana. Ratsiraka refused to abide bythe decision. May 2002 - Ravalomanana is sworn in aspresident. The international community showscautious support. June 2002 - Ratsiraka flees to France. Hereturns and calls for fresh talks, butRavalomanana rejects. July 2002 - Ratsiraka seeks exile in 13. July 2003 - After a year-long suspensionMadagascar is readmitted to the African Union(AU). December 2003 - Ratsiraka, still in exile, issentenced to five years in prison for his role inthe 2002 political crisis. November 2006 - Tensions arose when an armygenerals call for Ravalomanana to stand downahead of presidential. December 2006 - Ravalomanana wins thepresidential election with 55 percent of thevotes. 14. January 2009 - Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina callson Ravalomanana to resign as president and proclaimshimself in charge of the country after thousands take tothe streets demanding a new government. February 2009 - Rajoelina and Ravalomanana meet toresolve the crisis but talks stall. The AU warns it willcondemn any unconstitutional change of power. March 2009 - Madagascars army chief issues a 72-hourultimatum to the feuding political leaders to resolve theirdisputes or face military intervention. Ravalomananaproposes a referendum as a solution; fearing furtherunrest he resigns, ceding power to the military. Rajoelina assumes power with military and high courtbacking. The AU and the Southern African Development 15. April 2009 - Securityforces clash withRavalomananasupporters. June 2009 - Ravalomanana issentenced in absentia tofour years in prison forabuse of office. August 2009 - International mediatorsbroker a power-sharingagreement betweenMadagascars politicalrivals who agree to create 16. October 2009 - Madagascars opposing political factions agree to retain Rajoelina as head of the transitional government, but will not allow him to run in presidential elections. A consensus prime minister is appointed. November 2009 - Madagascars political rivalsmeet in Addis Ababa, and agree on a transitionalconsensus government until polls set for October2010 (a pledge that he did not fulfill 2010). December 2009 - Rajoelina isolates himself 17. Jan2010 - Rajoelina snubs the AfricanUnions top diplomat, and again rejects callsfor consensus government. February 2010 - Rajoelina postpones theparliamentary election until May. The AUthreatens Rajoelina and his administrationwith sanctions unless the power-sharing dealis implemented by 16 May 2010. March 2010 - Rajoelina fails to implementpower-sharing deal. The AU imposes targetedsanctions on Rajoelina and his administration. 2010 June - EU suspend development aid toMadagascar in the absence of democraticprogress. 18. 2010August - Exiled former president MarcRavalomanana is sentenced in absentia to life inprison. 2010 November - Voters in referendum endorsenew constitution that would allow de facto leaderRajoelina to run for president. 2011 September - Eight political parties signagreement intended to pave the way for elections tobe held within a year to re-establish democracy. Thedeal leaves Mr. Rajoelina in charge of a transitionalauthority until elections scheduled for March 2012. Italso allows for the return of exiled former president 19. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13864364 http://www.irinnews.org/Madagascar http://www.state.gov/p/af/ci/ma/