Chronography of Madagascar
Page last modified 22 August 2023
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See also Africa
2006, Ravalomana
won elections. In 2007 the electorate approved plans to increase Presidential
powers.
2003, Ratsiraka
retired; he was given a 10 year sentence of hard labour in absentia for
corruption. His former Prime Minister received a 12-year sentence.
2002, Madagascar was divided as opposition leader Marc Ravalomana claimed victory
in the 2001 Presidential elections. Mediation by the Organisation of African
Unity failed to break the deadlock, as the incumbent President Didier
Ratsiraka set up a rival government oin the port city of Tamatave.
The High Court ruled in favour of Ravalomana and Ratsiraka went into exile.
1997, Ratsiraka
was elected President.
1996, Zafy
was impeached.
1993, Zafy�s
CFV Party defeated Ratsiraka�s coalition government in free
elections.
1991, Opposition Forces Vives (CFV), a coalition of opposition parties, was
set up by Albert
Zafy.
1977, A �Democratic Republic� was set up, with only one political Party
permitted.
1975, Didier
Ratsikira, a radical socialist, took power.
Independence
26
June 1960, Madagascar became an
independent republic.� It had been a French
colony since 1896.
14 October 1958, Madagascar
gained autonomy.
29
March� 1947. Nationalist uprising in Madagascar against the
French. Thousands were killed in riots.
World War Two
19
October 1942,
In Madagascar, East African Allied troops advanced southwards from Tananarive.
800 Vichy French troopsa were taken prisoner near Ivato.
7 May 1942, Madagascar was occupied by British troops to forestall any
Japanese invasion.
1898, Viiolent anti-French protests
began, lasting until 1906. They were brutally suppressed.
1897, End of the reign of the last
monarch of Madagascar, Queen Ranavalona (reigned 1883-97). She was Queen
of Imerina; the Merina were the dominant indigenous ethnic group at the time of
French colonisation. However there was internal conflict between the Merina and
other indigenous peoples who resented Merina hegemony.
Start of French colonisation
6
August 1896. Madagascar was proclaimed a French colony.
1895, Half of the 15,000 French invasion force had succumbed to disease. Nevertheless
in September 1895 French troops triumphantly entered the capital, Antananarivo,
to enforce full control.
12/1894, Differences had arisen between the French and the
indigenous Malagasy administration. By a vote of 377 to 143 the French Chamber
of Deputies approved sending an
expeditionary force to enhance French control of the island. The French also
had concerns about a Black American, John Lewis Waller, who was negotiating
directly with the Malagasy administration regarding resources sich as minerals
and rubber, bypsassing the French �foreign affairs control�.
12/1885, A Treaty of Peace and Friendship between France and Madagascar
was signed at Tamatave. Ranavaolona continued as monarch and
controlled domestic affairs but France was in charge of foreign affairs. The Malagasy
Government was required to pay France ten million Francs, plus interest on a
loan, to cover the costs of the French invasion.
30
September 1895. The capital of
Madagascar, Tananarive, surrendered
to the French.
5
August 1890.� Britain agreed to recognise Madagascar as a French
colony and France recognised Zanzibar as a British protectorate. France
gave up claims to the lower Niger and retained the desert territories of the
Sahara.
1883, Accession of Queen Ranavalona, see 1897.
13
June 1883, The French continued
fighting in Madagascar.� Tamatave was bombarded and French subjects
expelled from the capital.
16
May 1883, The French commenced
hostilities in Madagascar,
bombarding Majunga.
1827, King
Radama I, Hova King of
Madagascar, died after an 18-year reign during which British influence had
been encouraged. He was succeeded by Queen Ranavaloana I, who reigned foir 33 years
and was hostile to both British and French influence and missionaries
1686, France formally annexed Madagascar.
10
June 1660, Etienne de Flacourt, French
colonial Governor of Madagascar, died (born 1607).
1500, Portuguese
explorer Diego
Dias visited Madagascar.