Madagascar, formally called the Malagasy Republic, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. It is located about 250 miles across the Mozambique Channel from the southeastern coast of Africa. About the same size as Texas, Madagascar is the fourth- largest island in the world, including its five small offshore island territories. Antananarivo is the capitol and principal city of Madagascar. The basic racial type of the people is Malayo-Polynesian. The Malagasy are divided into 18 different ethnic groups. The largest is the Merina. About 98% of the population are Malagasy, but there are small minorities from the nearby Comoros, as well as some French, Indians, and Chinese (4). Like the people, the Malagasy language is of Malayo-Polynesian origin. It has also borrowed from the Bant
"Madagascar." Background Notes Feb. 1990
During World War II, however, a series of events occurred, and leadership changed hands many times. After the war, Madagascar was turned over to the Free French in 1943. In 1947, there was a revolt against the French, and an estimated 11,000 to 80,000 were killed (3). Then, in 1960, the Malagasy Republic became independent from France on June 26. Philibert Tsiranana became the president. Army officers seized the power in 1972 and General Gabriel Ranamantsoa became the new president. In 1975, Didier Ratsiraka became president and a new constitution changed the name of the country from Malagasy Republic to Democratic Republic of Madagascar (4). As demands for Ratsiraka's resignation increased, the resistance formed a rival government headed by prime m
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