The French government has returned three skulls – one believed to be of a Malagasy king decapitated by French troops – to Madagascar in the latest step towards a rapprochement between the two states. The skulls were officially handed over to Malagasy government representatives in a ceremony at the French Culture Ministry in Paris, and are scheduled be carried…
Malagasy representatives are today (Monday 30 June 2025) in Paris to meet French representatives, and begin talks regarding the status of the Scattered Islands (Iles Eparses). The five islets surround Madagascar, and were a part of the country during the French colonial period, 1897-1960. But they were broken away in advance of Malagasy independence. They are a total of…
Today marks the start of the 66th year of the modern state of Madagascar. Malagasy people gained their full independence from France, officially, on 26 June 1960. Celebrations usually begin the night before, with celebrations including harendrina and tsipoapoaka (paper lanterns and firecrackers), to banish the ‘darkness of the past’ and welcome in (and commemorate the coming of) the ‘light…
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Malagasy counterpart Andry Nirina Rajoelina have agreed and announced a series of agreements on education, agriculture and energy, as well as one promising a joint study of a massacre in which some believe 200,000 Malagasy people were killed by French soldiers and politicians. We welcome the development initiatives – and hope the ‘commission…
French president Emmanuel Macron arrives in Antananarivo this afternoon (Wednesday 23rd April) for the first bilateral visit to Madagascar since 2005. But alongside talks on trade, defence, climate change and pollution, disagreement over ownership of Indian Ocean islands is likely to be expressed. French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Madagascar today to meet with Malagasy president Andry Nirina Rajoelina,…
Madagascar’s head of state Michael Randrianirina has…
The Malagasy government has begun a six-month…
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