Madagascar

Madagascar Map

Geography

Madagascar is a 226,656 sq mi (587,040 sq km) island off Southern Africa in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique.

Population

16,473,477 (July 2002 est.)

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

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Capital

Antananarivo

Political Status

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, 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. The 2002 election resulted in an resounding victory for RAVALOMANANA and his supporters who, with an allied coalition of 2 parties took 141 of the 160 seats.

Religion

Indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Field Goals

Launch a new church planting effort among an unreached folk-Muslim people group in the north of Madagascar.