Madagascar: Late French Colonialism (1945-1960)

Updated November 2005

In the implementation of the Brazzaville Conference's principles the Madagascan French settlers and colonials were each permitted to send two representatives to the Constituent Assembly of the Fourth Republic of France in 1945. The Madagascan delegates, Joseph Raseta and Joseph Ravoahangy, used the platform to agitate for self-rule for Madagascar. Together with Jacques Rabemananjara, they formed the Democratic Movement for Malagasy Restoration (MDRM) in early 1946. The party's 300 000 members hailed from all over the island and represented a broad range of social classes and ethnic groups. The disproportionate representation of Merina in the party leadership, however, led to the formation of smaller groups, such as the Party of the Malagasy Disinherited, which drew its membership predominately from the people of the coast and the lowest caste (descendents of slaves) in the highlands (Library of Congress 1994b).

In terms of the new French constitution Madagascar became an overseas territory within the French Union and Madagascans were granted a vaguely defined and qualified French citizenship. A qualified franchise, based on education and assimilation to French culture, was introduced and the territory was divided into provinces each with its own elected assembly. A National Representative Assembly (was constituted from delegates elected from the provincial assemblies. The MDRM swept the elections capturing a majority of seats in the provincial assemblies, but for Mahajanga in the northwest, and thus also in the in the National Representative Assembly. Nevertheless settlers and those with full, unqualified French citizenship (including a small number of Madagascans) elected representatives disproportionate to their numbers (Library of Congress 1994b, Thomson Corporation 2005).

The post-war economic situation was difficult. Wartime shortages persisted, especially of food (but also of other consumer goods) and the black-market flourished. Under these stresses social difficulties emerged such as renewed ethnic tensions, resentment at the continuation of forced labour and the problems associated with the reintegration of returning war veterans. The latter had been radicalized by the war as a result of the discrimination they had experienced by comparison with soldiers from France, the loss of French prestige as a result of the German occupation and by exposure to socialist and anti-colonialist strains in left-wing French circles (Library of Congress 1994b).

The volatile situation erupted in a nationalist rebellion in 1947 that quickly spread to a third of the island and was put down only with great difficulty with reinforcements from abroad in 1948. The fierce struggle led to the loss of 180 non-Madagascan lives, while the Madagascans lost at least a hundred times that number and perhaps as many as 80 000 people (Columbia Encyclopedia 2005a, US State Department 2005, Library of Congress 1994b). The MDRM distanced itself from the revolt, but the party was suppressed by the colonial government nevertheless. Rebel military leaders were tried and 20 of them executed, while other participants were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment (Library of Congress 1994b).

The Madagascan uprising was but symptomatic of the general rejection of the Fourth Republic arrangements by colonials. Conflict erupted in Indo-china and the formation of an effective and enduring French government was hampered by conflicts between left and right over colonial policy. Shortly after a French military disaster in Indo-china, which led directly to France's withdrawal from Vietnam, the brutal conflict in Algeria broke out. Under the leadership of a socialist government a u-turn in colonial position was made in 1956. Tunisia and Morocco were granted independence and the Enabling Act (Loi Cadre) was passed which provided for the democratization of colonial governments (Columbia Encyclopedia 2005b).

In Madagascar universal suffrage was introduced, settler political privileges were abolished and democratic executive councils created. The Merina minority, which had benefited most from economic and educational opportunities hitherto, now found itself outvoted by the peoples of the coast. The divisions between the two groups, which had receded under the earlier arrangements, now resurfaced (US State Department 2005, Library of Congress 1994b). The Democratic Social Party of Madagascar (PSD) emerged under the leadership of Philibert Tsiranana and was able to position itself as the voice of the peoples of the coast, advocating self-rule with continuing close ties with France. The Congress Party for the Independence of Madagascar (AKFM) emerged as the advocate total independence, the strengthening of Madagascan cultural identity and language, non-alignment in the Cold War and withdrawal from the Franc monetary union. Under the leadership of a Merina, Richard Andriamanjato, it quickly secured the support of the Merina elite. The party had a distinct socialist character, calling for measures such as the nationalization of foreign owned firms and the collectivization of agriculture (Library of Congress 1994b).

The PSD was able to use its numeric dominance to navigate a slow, smooth transition to independence while maintaining and strengthening ties with France. In a September 1958 referendum self-government within the French Community was endorsed by the electorate; the AKFM opposition which demanded full independence could muster only 25% of the vote. On October 14, 1958 the Malagasy Republic was proclaimed. A new constitution was adopted in 1959, Tsiranana was elected the first president on April 27, 1959 and on June 26, 1960 the country became legally fully independent (Columbia Encyclopedia 2005a, US State Department 2005, Library of Congress 1994c).

References

COLUMBIA ENCYCLOPEDIA 2005a "Madagascar", Sixth edition, [www] http://www.bartleby.com/65/ma/Madagasc.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

COLUMBIA ENCYCLOPEDIA 2005b, "France", Sixth Edition, [www] http://209.10.134.179/65/fr/France.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1994b "Colonial Era, 1894-1960" IN Country Study: Madagascar [www] http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+mg0014) [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1994c "Independence, the First Republic, and the Military Transition, 1960-75" IN Country Study: Madagascar [www] http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+mg0015) [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

THOMSON CORPORATION 2005 "Madagascar: History" IN Encyclopedia of the Nations, [www] http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Madagascar-HISTORY.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

US STATE DEPARTMENT 2005 "Background Note: Madagascar" [www] http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5460.htm [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).