Madagascar country profile – BBC News

Some key dates in Madagascar’s history:

c. 350-550AD – First settlers reach Madagascar, making it one of the last major landmasses on Earth to be settled by humans.

7th-9th Centuries – Arab traders reach the island. Madagascar becomes an important trading hub connecting ports of the Indian Ocean.

11th Century – Bantu-speaking migrants from southeast Africa arrive, along with south Indian Tamil merchants.

16th-17th Centuries – Portuguese and French establish trading posts.

c 1540-1897 – Merina kingdom, or Kingdom of Madagascar comes to dominate most of the island by the 18th Century.

1818 onwards – London Missionary Society sends missionaries to the island.

1828-61 – Queen Ranavalona I responds to increasing political and cultural encroachment on the part of Britain and France by banning Christianity and pressuring most foreigners to leave.

1883 – France invades Madagascar in 1883 in the first Franco-Hova war. Madagascar cedes the northern port town of Antsiranana or Diego Suarez to France.

1890 – UK accepts the imposition of a French protectorate on the island, but the government of Madagascar resists.

1895 – French forces march on Antananarivo, shelling the city and leading Queen Ranavalona III to surrender.

1896-97 – France declares Madagascar a colony and sends the royal family into exile. The formal declaration of a colony sees a 15 year “pacification” campaign by French troops to overcome resistance.

1939-45 – World War Two.

1940 – France occupied by German forces. Madagascar is under Vichy French administration. The occupation of France during the war tarnishes the colonial administration’s prestige and encourages the growing independence movement.

1942 – Battle of Madagascar. UK forces capture the Vichy French-controlled island in order to deny it ports to the Japanese.

1946 – Madagascar becomes French overseas territory.

1947-49 – Malagasy Uprising, external. Nationalists launch attacks on French military bases. France responds by bringing up to 30,000 troops to violently suppress the rebels. Some 600 French troops and an estimated 11,000-100,000 Malagasy civilians are killed in the fighting.

1960 – Madagascar wins independence, with Philibert Tsiranana as president.

1972 – Economic stagnation triggers protests Tsiranana hands over power over to a military council.

1975 – Didier Ratsiraka appointed head of state and president of a new ruling body, the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC). He rules for the next 26 years.

1992 – Democratic reforms usher in new constitution.

2001 – After a disputed presidential election, Ratsiraka flees to France.

2009 – Bloodless coup results in economic sanctions.

2013 – Democratic elections fail to bring political stability, with executive pitted against legislature.

2018 – Andry Rajoelina wins the presidential election.