Madagascar

An island country located in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. It is the fourth-largest island in the world and a unique natural laboratory: it split from the African continent some 160 million years ago and evolved in isolation, giving rise to species found nowhere else on the planet. Despite its extraordinary natural wealth, Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest countries, with more than 80% of its population living below the poverty line.

History

Madagascar was one of the last major landmasses to be settled by humans. The first inhabitants arrived about 1,300 to 2,000 years ago, mainly from Southeast Asia (present-day Indonesia), with later contributions from East African Bantu peoples and Arab traders . This unique mixture gave rise to the Malagasy people and their language, Malagasy, which belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian language family.

In the 16th century, the Merina people established a kingdom in the central highlands. In 1794, this kingdom became a centralized feudal state and, in the early 19th century under King Radama I, unified most of the island . During the 19th century, the British and French competed for influence. France invaded the island in 1895, deposed the monarchy, and made Madagascar a colony in 1896 .

After decades of colonial rule, Madagascar gained independence on June 26, 1960, as the Malagasy Republic . Since then, the country has alternated between periods of political instability, including coups d’état, post-election crises, and transitions. In 2025, following massive youth-led protests, President Andry Rajoelina was ousted and Colonel Michael Randrianirina assumed power at the head of a transitional government .

Culture

Malagasy society is made up of 18 ethnic groups, the most prominent being the Merina (26% of the population), the Betsileo (12%), and the Sakalava (6%) . Despite this diversity, they share a common language, Malagasy, and a deeply unified worldview.

The central element of Malagasy culture is the relationship between the living and the dead. Ancestor worship (razana) permeates all aspects of social life. The best-known practice is the famadihana, or “turning of the bones,” a ceremony in which families exhume the remains of their ancestors, wrap them in new silk shrouds, and parade them in procession before reburying them .

The zebu is an omnipresent symbol of wealth, status, and traditional values. Savika, a tradition consisting of staying on a zebu’s back for as long as possible, is a ritual and sporting practice that pays homage to the animal’s strength .

Rice is the basis of the diet and sets the rhythm of rural life. The national dish is romazava, a zebu meat stew with green leaves and ginger, served with rice. Its colors (red from tomato, green from leaves, white from rice) evoke the national flag .

Nature

Madagascar is a megadiverse country with exceptional levels of endemism. Of the approximately 11,516 native vascular plant species, 82% are endemic . Among vertebrates, 90% of native species are endemic: 100% of lemurs, 98% of reptiles, 95% of mammals, and 56% of birds are found nowhere else on Earth .

Lemurs are the most recognizable symbol of Malagasy wildlife. There are more than 100 species and subspecies, all endemic, many critically endangered . Also notable are chameleons (about half of the world’s species live here), giant tortoises, and unique birds such as the elephant bird, extinct for centuries but whose legacy endures in cultural memory.

The landscape varies dramatically by region: humid tropical rainforests in the east, dry and spiny forests in the southwest, savannas and highlands in the center, and coral reefs and mangroves along its 5,600 km of coastline .

The main threat to this biodiversity is deforestation. It is estimated that only 10% to 20% of the original forest cover remains, destroyed mainly by slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal production, and livestock expansion .

Government

Madagascar is a unitary republic with a presidential system under the 2010 Constitution (Third Republic) . The President is head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces, elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term, renewable only once. The President appoints the Prime Minister and can dissolve the National Assembly .

Legislative power resides in a bicameral Parliament: the National Assembly (163 deputies elected for 5 years) and the Senate (two-thirds elected by the provinces, one-third appointed by the President) .

The judiciary is organized into three orders: judicial (Court of Cassation), administrative (Council of State), and financial (Court of Accounts), all integrated into the Supreme Court. The High Constitutional Court is the highest body of constitutional review .

However, since October 2025, the country has been under a military transitional government led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, following the ouster of President Rajoelina. The transition provides for a national consultation, constitutional reform, and elections within up to 18 months