NationStates Jolt Archive

Background:
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.

Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
4,828 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath

Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 5.03%
permanent crops: 1.02%
other: 93.95% (2005)

Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

Population:
19,448,815 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.9% (male 4,297,985/female 4,243,369)
15-64 years: 53% (male 5,117,874/female 5,190,032)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 270,411/female 329,144) (2007 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.8 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 18 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate:
3.008% (2007 est.)

Birth rate:
38.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate:
8.51 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.013 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.986 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.822 male(s)/female

total population: 0.992 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 57.02 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 62.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.14 years
male: 60.23 years
female: 64.1 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate:
5.24 children born/woman (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2007)

Ethnic groups:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

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 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; the remaining one-third of seats appointed by the president; to 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:
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), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Narisoa RAJAONARIVONY
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. McGEE
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

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

Economy - overview:
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.

GDP (Nominal):
30.042 billion

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.27 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.059 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.9%
industry: 16.5%
services: 56.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
7.3 million (2000)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.5 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
26.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $879.9 million

Agriculture - 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
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
984 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - consumption:
915.1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
90.59 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
14,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$993.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products

Exports - partners:
France 32%, US 25.3%, Germany 6%, Italy 5%, UK 4.1% (2006)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners:
France 13.4%, China 11.6%, Iran 9%, Mauritius 7.4%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2006)

Currency (code):
Madagascar ariary (MGA)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Telephones - main lines in use:
66,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
504,700 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: system is above average for the region
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links connect regions
international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Internet country code:
.mg

Internet hosts:
1,504 (2006)

Internet users:
90,000 (2005)

Airports:
116 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 87
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Railways:
total: 854 km
narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 49,827 km
paved: 5,780 km
unpaved: 44,047 km (1999)

Waterways:
600 km (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,896 GRT/18,466 DWT
by type: cargo 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:
18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18 months (either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,542,797
females age 18-49: 3,551,447 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,218,662
females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 187,000
females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)

Disputes - international:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France)

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

Military Data
Eligible age to enter service: 18

Mandatory Service Terms: 18 months for conscripted service

Manpower in general population-fit for military service: males age 18-49: 2,218,662 females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2006 estimate)

Manpower reaching eligible age annually: males: 187,000 females age 18-49: 184,833 (2006 estimate)

Current Capabilities: Active: 13,500 Reserve: N/A

Stuff:

History

Despite its location close to the African continent, the first human settlers of Madagascar appear to have come from Asia, rather than Africa, between 100 and 500 AD. The culture shows the influence of both Africa and Asia. The settlement represented the western-most branch of the great Austronesian expansion. Some of the strongest evidence indicating that the settlers of Madagascar came from this region is linguistic: the Malagasy language belongs to the group of Malayo-Polynesian languages, the rest of which are spoken in the island nations of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

The written history of Madagascar begins in the 7th century, when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coast and first transcribed the Malagasy into the Arabic-based alphabet Sorabe. European contact began in the 1500s, when Portuguese sea captain Diogo Dias sighted the island after his ship separated from a fleet going to India.

In 1665, François Caron, the Director General of the newly formed French East India Company, sailed to Madagascar. The Company failed to found a colony on Madagascar but established ports on the nearby islands of Bourbon and Île-de-France (today's Réunion and Mauritius). In the late 17th century, the French established trading posts along the east coast.

From about 1774 to 1824, it was a favourite haunt for pirates, including Americans, one of whom brought Malagasy rice to North Carolina. Many European sailors would be shipwrecked on the coasts of the island. The most interesting of these is Robert Drury whose journal is one of the only written depictions of life in southern Madagascar during the 18th century.

During the Middle Ages, the chiefs of the different settlements began to extend their power through trade with Indian Ocean neighbors, notably East Africa, the Middle East and India. Large chiefdoms began to dominate considerable areas of the island. Among these were the Sakalava chiefdoms of the Menabe, centered in what is now the town of Morondava, and of Boina, centered in what is now the provincial capital of Mahajanga (Majunga). The influence of the Sakalava extended across what is now the provinces of Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toliara. But with the domination of the Indian Ocean by the British fleet and the end of the Arab slave trade, the Sakalava would lose their power to the emerging Merina threat. For a short time the Betsimisaraka of the east coast also unified, but this unification was short-lived.

On October 1, 1776, the natives of Madagascar elected Móric Beňovský (Matthew/Maurice/Móritz Benyowsky/Benovsky/Benyowszky) King / Emperor (Ampansacabé) of Madagascar on the Mahevelou plane. Among other things, Maurice introduced Latin script for the Malagasy language. (In the history of Madagascar, the King Andrianampoinimerina (1786–1810) is mentioned as the national unifier—in fact he built upon the efforts of the Ampansacabe Beňovský.)

Beginning in the 1790s, Merina rulers succeeded in establishing hegemony over the major part of the island, including the coast. In 1817, the Merina ruler and the British governor of Mauritius concluded a treaty abolishing the slave trade, which had been important in Madagascar's economy. In return, the island received British military and financial assistance. British influence remained strong for several decades, during which the Merina court was converted to Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, and Anglicanism

Geography

At 226,642 mi² (587,040 km²), Madagascar is the world's 46th-largest country and its fourth largest island. It is comparable in size to Kenya.

Towards the east, a steep escarpment leads from the central highlands down into a ribbon of rain forest with a narrow coastal further east. The Canal des Pangalanes is a chain of natural and man-made lakes connected by canals that runs parallel to the east coast for some 300 miles (about 200 km).

On the western side of the island, the descent from the central highlands toward the west is more gradual, with remnants of deciduous forest and savannah-like plains (which in the south and southwest, are quite dry and host spiny desert and baobabs). Although there are many protected harbours on the west coast, silting up, caused by sediment from the high levels of erosion suffered inland in Madagascar, is a major problem.

A central ridge running the length of the island from north to south creates a clear geographical division between the east and west. Along the crest of this ridge lie the central highlands, a plateau region ranging in altitude from 2,450 to 4,400 ft (750 to 1350m) above sea level. The central highlands are characterised by terraced, rice-growing valleys lying between barren hills. Here, the red laterite soil that covers much of the island has been exposed by erosion, showing clearly why the country is often referred to as known as the “Red Island."

The central ridge is punctuated by three zones of higher mountain massifs. The Tsaratanana massif in the far north has volcanic mountains and separate Diego Suarez (Antsiranana), with its large natural harbour, from the rest of the island. The highest mountain on the island, Maromokotro, with an altitude of 9,436 ft (2,876 m), is found in this massif. The Ankaratra massif is in the central area south of the capital, Antananarivo and is where the second highest peak on the island, Tsiafajavona, with an altitude of 8,668 ft (2,643 m), is situated. Further south is the Andringitra massif which has several peaks over 8,000 ft (about 2,400 m) including the island’s third and fourth highest peaks, the 8,720 ft (2,658 m) Pic Boby and the 8,626 ft (2,630 m) Pic Bory. Other peaks in the massif, which is where the Andringitra Reserve, include Pic Soaindra (altitude: 8,594 ft, 2,620 m) and Pic Ivangomena (altitude: 8,385 ft, 2,556 m). The Ankaratra massif is the one part of the island where snow is found (above 8,000 ft, 2,400 m) and may remain for several days.

There are two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April, and a cooler, dry season from May to October. South-eastern trade winds predominate, and the island occasionally experiences cyclones.

Dear Bull_horns_rule,

We here in the VDB would like to offer you a deal. You get an embassy and a consulate in our nation. We gets some in yours. Also, we both sign a Free Trade Agreement. Sounds good?

Signed,

The Four Princes of the VDB

Dear Bull_horns_rule,

We here in the VDB would like to offer you a deal. You get an embassy and a consulate in our nation. We gets some in yours. Also, we both sign a Free Trade Agreement. Sounds good?

Signed,

The Four Princes of the VDB

To: VDB
From: BHR

We accept your very generous offer.

President Ravioli

Thanks!

Official Message from Royal Airways of Donaghadee

Dear Ministry of Tourism

The RAD feel that it would be benifiticial to your nation if you open up a number of your airports to our flights from Donaghadee. We are willing to pay if you name the price

Charles Lament

We would not like anything but we are willing to open our airports.

President Ravioli

OOC: FREEBIE

Thank you what aiport do you want the RAD to fly into

Official Message from the International Trading Company of Donaghadee

The ITCD is looking to help you expand your tourism industry by building with your permissions a hotel resort in your nation, we will build it in an area of your choice but we will check the area first. We would also like to build a port for ITCD use

James Dore

New Brittonia would like to establish an embassy exchange with you.

Signed,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Raymond Schmidt

All countries can have embassies ports and the like. Donaghadee any where. Also we have a HUGE surplus of ETHANOL.

ITCD Message

Thank you for your answer, on the Ethanol issue the Board belives that this would be prudent as we are looking to develop Ethanol cars.We have a few conditions if this trade deal will go through, firstly we are the sole exporter of Ethanol out of your nation, Secondly you let us increase the defense force at Port Horned(my port near Antsirana) and Thirdly you create the Ethanol in the most environmentally friendly pay possibe. Also this is not a condition but we hope you will buy some of the Ethanol Cars.

James Dore

ITCD Message

Thank you for your answer, on the Ethanol issue the Board belives that this would be prudent as we are looking to develop Ethanol cars.We have a few conditions if this trade deal will go through, firstly we are the sole exporter of Ethanol out of your nation, Secondly you let us increase the defense force at Port Horned(my port near Antsirana) and Thirdly you create the Ethanol in the most environmentally friendly pay possibe. Also this is not a condition but we hope you will buy some of the Ethanol Cars.

James Dore

You can be the sole exporter of ethanol, increase defence with permission(notify of everything for defence), and for cars most of our people live in poverty and we would be intrested in ethanol mass transit.

ITCD Message

It seems we have an agreement, with your permission we will deploy 20 armed guards from Donaghadee and 100 native guards officered by men from Donaghadee. Also 2 120mm F1 Mortar with 12 men to operate it and 2 Hummer H1 (non Military). We only need these to protect our assets in your country, they may also if cleared with us be used to help your Government.

James Dore