Madagascar

Arabs first arrived in Madagascar in the 900s, followed by the Europeans in 1500.  Diego Dias was the first of the Portugese and the first European to set foot on Madagascar.  Then from the 1600s to the 1700s British traders and colonists began to arrive.  In 1669 French settlers fleed Madagascar.  From 1787 to 1810 Andrianampoinmerina united the people of Mernian and ruled them.  Then with the rule of Radama I, the Betsileo and Sakalava people were conquered.  Radama I also welcomed European traders and missionaries making was for the first mission schoool that opened in 1820.  When queen Ranavalona I then took power in 1828, she expelled all Europeans from Madagascar.  King Radama II reopened Madagascar to British and French traders and missionaries when he began rule in 1861.  In 1885, Madagascar became a French protectorate and then, in 1896, became a French colony.  Several years after Meriana people formed Vy Vato Sakelika, a secret political group, France granted Madagascar limited control of its own government. A year after being granted this, Madagascar became an overseas territory of France in 1946.  In 1958 they became a self-governing state and then in 1960 became an independent state.  The government wrote a new constitution in 1992 and in 1999 the World Bank agreed to lend Madagascar 100 million dollars.

Country Stats

Official Name: Republic of Madagascar

Capital: Antananarivo

Official Language: Malagasy

Official Religion: none

National Anthem: Ry Tanindrazanay Malala O (Our Beloved Country)

Government: Federal Republic

Head of government:Prime Minister

Chief of State:President

Population: 14,463,000

Currency: Malagasy Franc

Literacy: 80%