Madagascar
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Republic of Madagascar
Country name - conventional short form : Madagascar
Country name - local long form : Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
Country name - local short form : Madagascar/Madagasikara
Country name - former : Malagasy Republic
Government type : republic
Capital - name : Antananarivo
Capital - time difference : UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Population : 20,042,552 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Malagasy (singular and plural)
Nationality - adjective : Malagasy
Languages : English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)
Currency (code) : ariary (MGA)
Currency code : MGF
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk : very high
Madagascar is located Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique. The climate is tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south. The terrain is narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. RAVALOMANANA is now in his second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006.
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