Repoblikan'i Madagasikara (Malagasy)

République de Madagascar (French)

Note: Former mayor of Antananarivo Andry Rajoelina was declared president on March 21, 2009, after an army-backed coup during which former president Marc Ravalomanana “voluntarily” handed power to a military directorate, who in turn handed it to Rajoelina. The African Union and the Southern African Development Community have condemned the seizure of power and demanded that constitutional order be restored.

Political Status: Established as the Malagasy Republic within the French Community in 1958; became independent June 26, 1960; military regime established May 18, 1972; name of Democratic Republic of Madagascar and single-party system adopted in new constitution and Socialist Revolutionary Charter approved by national referendum on December 21, 1975; present name adopted in the new constitution of the Third ...