Madagascar, History, Capital, Government, Languages, Latest News

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Madagascar Latest News

An elite military unit that backed youth-led anti-government street protests recently said it had taken power in Madagascar after the national assembly voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina.

About Madagascar

It is an island country of Africa.
It is located around 400 km off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean, with the nearest mainland African country being Mozambique.
It is separated from the African coast by the Mozambique Channel.
It is the second-largest island country in the world. It covers an area of 592,800 sq.km.
The island country of Mauritius and Réunion (territory of France), lie to the east of Madagascar.
To the northwest are the French territory of Mayotte and the island country of Comoros.
The Tsaratanana Massif region at the northern end of the island is home to Madagascar’s highest point, Maromokotro, at 2,876 m.
History:
- France invaded the island in 1883. France officially declared Madagascar a French colony in 1896.
- After World War II, in 1947, locals fought for their independence from France in what became known as the Malagasy Uprising.
- In 1960, Madagascar finally became an independent nation.
Capital: Antananarivo
Languages: Malagasy, French
Government: It is a semi-presidential republic. The public elects a president, who in turn appoints a prime minister to put together a cabinet to advise the president.
Economy:
- Eighty percent of Madagascar’s economy is fueled by agricultural industries, including forestry and fishing.
- Among the island’s most frequently sold agricultural products are coffee, vanilla, and sugarcane.
Biodiversity:
- Lush rainforests, dry deserts, and grassy plains cover the island, with coral reefs and mangrove forests stretching along its coastlines.
- Almost 90 percent of the plants and animals living on Madagascar aren’t found anywhere else in the world.
- That’s because strong ocean currents have isolated the island from the African continent, so the species living there haven’t traveled beyond the island’s borders.