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Madagascar

Website: http://www.madagascar.gov.mg

BRIEF HISTORY

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its 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. Madagascar is also a member of ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

GEOGRAPHY

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique.

CLIMATE

Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south.

TERRAIN

Narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower.

POPULATION

18,595,469 (July 2006 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.

NATIONALITY

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy

LANGUAGES

French (official), Malagasy (official).

COUNTRY NAME

Conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
Conventional short form: Madagascar
Local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
Local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
Former: Malagasy Republic

GOVERNMENT TYPE

Republic

CAPITAL CITY

Antananarivo.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara.

INDEPENDENCE

26 June 1960 (from France)

NATIONAL HOLIDAY

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

CONSTITUTION

19 August 1992 by national referendum

LEGAL SYSTEM

Based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
Head of government: Prime Minister Charles RABEMANANJARA (25 January 2007)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-year terms)
Elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD 5, others 3, independents 22.

JUDICIAL BRANCH

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle.

POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS

Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]

FLAG DESCRIPTION

Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

 

ECONOMY BRIEF

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization. This strategy placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products.

INDUSTRIES

Meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism.

EXPORT COMMODITIES

Coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products.

IMPORT COMMODITIES

Capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food.

CURRENCY CODE

Madagascar Ariary (MGA).

INTERNET COUNTRY CODE

.mg

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