Madagascar

This Page was last updated in June 2008.

Political Situation	In April 2007, the people of Madagascar went to vote again, this time in a referendum, approving a major constitutional reform which gave the president more power at the expense of the provinces. In July, the parliament was dissolved and elections held in September in line with the new constitution. The presidential election of 2006: In the presidential election of 3rd Dececmber 2006, voting was observed by 14,000 local and 150 international monitors. Voting passed off peacefully, except in Toliara, where a ballot box was burnt by voters. The Constitutional High Court has now confirmed that the incumbant president, Marc Ravalomanana, won 54.8% of the vote, so no second round is needed. This figure, published by the ministry of the interior, was disputed in the High Court by Roland Ratsiraka, son of the former president and mayor of Toamasina, who came third in the election. The president's side riposted that complaints lodged with the High Court could not change the reality that the incumbent president won two million more votes than his nearest rivals. President Ravilomanana called for a presidential election on 3rd December. There were 14 accepted candidates, of whom six had demanded that the President resign. They and other opposition members, including Pierrot Rajanarivelo, himself banned by the courts from standing in the election, insisted that the President had broken the constitution by not resigning on 3rd November. They claimed that the constitution demands he step down a month before presidential elections in order that all candidates might have a fair chance. On Friday 17th November General "Fidy" Randrianafidisoa (who has no official post) attempted to enter the ministry of defence and then, reported La Gazette de l'Ile, together with about twelve officers, called on the military to overthrow the president. He then went to the Ivato Naval and Air Base. The forces of law and order took control of the base in a gun fight at 4.30 am local time Saturday morning, 18th November , in which one soldier, Frederic Rasolofomanana, was killed. General 'Fidy' escaped and was still at large until 12th December. The plane carrying the President from France was diverted away from the area, as the Ivato base is near the airport of Antananarivo. The government continued to function throughout. General Fidy had already been banned from contesting the election by the constitutional court. He is dubbed 'the hero of Andohanatady' by many, including, for example, Midi Madagasikara - a private newspaper also online - refering to his role in establishing the democratic regime in 2002. According to Radio France International, the coup attempt was soon over and was an isolated act by an individual but the whole affair has 'many shadowy zones.' All this is going on as aid organisations were warning of possible crop failures looming on the south of the island nation, acording to IRIN News Agency. Since the election, typhoons have repeatedly battered the island nation.
Official Name	Repoblikan'i Madagasikara (in Malgash): Republic of Madagascar (Republique de Madagascar)
Former Name	Malagasy Republic (people of Asian and African origin, island was uninhabited until Indonesian seafarers arrived in 1st century A.D.; written history began when Arabs established trading posts in the 7th century A.D.; Portuguese contact began in the 1500s; French established trading posts n the late 17th century; pirates’ haven 1774-1824; Merina rulers established hegemony in the 1790s; Merina-British treaty in 1817; British agreed to French making Madagascar protectorate in return for control over Zanzibar in 1885; became a French colony in 1886; French absolute control over Madagascar established by force, and Merina monarchy abolished in 1895-96; World War II, Madagascar administered first by the Vichy government and then by the British in 1942; Free French received the island from the United Kingdom in 1943; nationalist uprising suppressed in 1947; reformed institutions in 1956; Malagasy Republic proclaimed as an autonomous state within the French Community on 14 October 1958; period of provisional government ended with constitution adopted in 1959, full independence in 1960.)
Capital	Antananarivo
Main Towns	Antsirabe, Antananarivo (pop. about 1,300,000), Antsirabe (pop. about 500,000), Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga (pop. about 400,000), Toamasina (pop. about 450,000), Toliary
Subdivisions	6 provinces (faritany): Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Constitution	19 August 1992 by national referendum, entered into force in March 1998.
National Holiday	Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Independence	26 June 1960 (from France)
UN Membership	20 September 1960
OAU Membership	25 May 1963 – now African Union (AU)
Commonwealth	n/a
Other Organisations	In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT), Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICCt - signatory), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Indian Ocean Commission (InOC), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO - correspondent), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Confederation of Labour (WCL), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Population	World Bank Figures: 18,600,000 (2005 estimate), was 15,050,500 (1999), 15,523,000 (2000), 15,975,752 (2001), 16,437,216 (2002), 16,893,904 (2003) Other Sources: 13,862,325 (July 1995), 15,982,563 (July 2001 est.), 16,979,744 (July 2003 est.) 18,040,341 (July 2005 est.)
Area	226,658 sq. mls. (587,041 sq. kms.)
Density	20 per sq.km. (1995)
Highest Point	Maromokotro 9,436 ft. (2,876 m.)
Lowest Point	Indian Ocean - sea level
Neighbours	None - Indian Ocean
Life Expectancy	52 years (1995), total population: 55.35 years, male: 53.08 years, female: 57.68 years (2001 est.) total population: 56.14 years, male: 53.82 years, female: 58.53 years (2003 est.) total population: 56.95 years male: 54.57 years female: 59.4 years (2005 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 80.21 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 71.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 88.63 deaths/1,000 live births total: 76.83 deaths/1,000 live births male: 85.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 68.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS	adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2001 est.) 1.7% (2003 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 22,000 (2001 est.) 140,000 (2003 est.) deaths: 870 (2001 est.) 7,500 (2003 est.) IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Madagascar - Updated: Oct 2005 Population: 16.9 million HIV Prevalence Rate (%) 2003 End: 1 No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 178,000 No. Of People in need of ART: 30,000 No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 04): -- No. Of People on ART Public Sector: 65 No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: Nil No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (2005 End): 600 Front Line Drug Regimen: N/D HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 6 Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 2: Approved 23-Apr-03): US$5,024,116.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$4,455,835.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): US$5 million Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: Nil Source: National HIV/AIDS Control Committee, UNAIDS, The Global Fund, The World Bank
Adult Literacy Rate	77% (1985), total population: 80%, male: 88%, female: 73% (1990 est.) total population: 68.9%, male: 75.5%, female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran.
Languages	Malagasy (official), French (official)
Religions	Muslim 7% Christianity 45% Traditional Religion (Animist) 47%
Government	Republic
President	Marc Ravalomanana (since 6 May 2002)
Prime Minister	Jacques Sylla (27 May 2002)
Political Parties	Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar (AREMA); Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery (LEADER/Fanilo); Tiako i Madagasikara (I Love Madagascar: TIM); National Union (FP); Renewal of the Social Democratic Party (RPSD)
Ruling Party	---
Currency	Franc Malgache (FMG, MGF)(100 centimes) Malagasy francs per US dollar - 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001), 1,353.5 (2000)
GDP	US$4.4 billion (2004) was US$224 (1992) US$3,198m (1995) GDP: U.S.$5.5 billion (2003) GDP: US$ 3.9 billion (2004) purchasing power parity - US$14.56 billion (2004 est.) per capit purchasing power parity - US$760 (2002 est.) per capit purchasing power parity - US$800 (2004 est.)
GNP	US$230 (1992) US$220 (1994) US$230 (1995)
Per Capita Income	GDP per capita (World Bank Country Assistance Strategy): US$240.
Population Below Poverty Line	71% (1999 est.) 50% (2004 est.)
Land Use	arable land: 5.07% permanent crops: 1.03% other: 93.91% (2001) Irrigated land: 10,900 sq km (2000 est.)
Natural Resources	graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, hardwoods, fish, hydropower
Oil and Natural Gas	Oil production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) consumption: 13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001) proved reserves: 0 bbl (January 2002 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (January 2002 est.)
Military	Military branches: People's Armed Forces (comprising Intervention Force, Development Force, Aeronaval [Navy and Air] Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,880,332 (2003 est.) males age 18-49: 3,542,797 (2005 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: US$52.3 million, 1.2% of GDP (FY02) US$44.6 million, 1.2% of GDP (2004)
Economic Aid Received	US$838 million (1997) US$354 million (2001) Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$24 (1999), US$21 (2000), US$23 (2001), US$23 (2002), US$32 (2003)
Debt	Less indebted (HIPC) Madagascar reached completion of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s highly indebted poor countries initiative (HIPC) in October 2004 and will receive some US $ 836 million in debt relief over time. World Bank Figures: US$2,985,999,872 (2000), US$2,044,999,936 (2001), US$1,397,799,936 (2002), US$1,466,899,968 (2003) Other Sources: US$5bn (1995), US$4.4 bn (1999), US$4.6 billion (2002)
Major Imports	capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food $1,464 million: foodstuffs, fuel and energy, capital goods, vehicles, consumer goods and electronics (2003)
Imports from	France 24.1%, Hong Kong 7.0%, China 6.6%, Singapore 3.5%, Germany 2.9%, Japan (2001) France, China, Hong Kong, Belgium, U.S. (2003) US$1,3 billion c.i.f. (2003) France 17.6%, China 11.1%, Hong Kong 6.7%, Iran 6.2%, South Africa 5.8% (2004) US$1.147 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Major Exports	coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products apparel, shrimp, vanilla, coffee, cloves, graphite, essential oils, industrial minerals and gemstones (2003)
Exports to	France 29.9%, US 27.6%, Germany 6.4%, UK 3.5%, Japan 3.0% (2001) U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, EU (2003) US$852 million f.o.b. (2003) US 35.7%, France 30.7%, Germany 7.1%, Mauritius 4.4% (2004) US$868.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 2 June, 2008
The Missionaries of Africa (also known as the 'White Fathers') are Registered Charity No. 233302 in England and Wales and a Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC037981.

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