Madagascar

Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) off the coast of East Africa across the Strait of Mozambique. Covering 592,800 square kilometers (228,900 sq mi), Madagascar is the second largest island nation after Indonesia. The state includes the island of Madagascar (the fourth largest island in the world) and many small peripheral islands.  Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by rapidly growing populations and other environmental threats.

Archaeological evidence of the first human forays in Madagascar can date back 10,000 years. The population of Madagascar originated from the Austronesian peoples who arrived by canoe from modern Indonesia. They were joined around the 9th century AD by Bantu migrants crossing the Strait of Mozambique from East Africa. Other groups continued to settle in Madagascar over time, each of which made significant contributions to the cultural life of the Malagasy people. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into 18 or more subgroups, the largest of which are the geldings of the central highlands.

Until the end of the 18th century, the island of Madagascar was ruled by scattered socio-political unions. Beginning in the early 19th century, most of the island was united and ruled as the Kingdom of Madagascar by several Merina nobles. The monarchy ended in 1897 when the island was absorbed by the French colonial empire. The island gained independence in 1960. Since then, the autonomous state of Madagascar has gone through four main constitutional periods called republics. Since 1992, the country has been officially governed as a constitutional democracy from its capital at Antananarivo. However, during the 2009 political crisis, President Mark Ravalomanana was forced to step down. In March 2009, the presidency was transferred to Andri Rajoelina. Constitutional governance was restored in January 2014 when Kheri Rajaonarimampianina was appointed president following the 2013 elections, which the international community considered fair and transparent. Madagascar is a member of the United Nations, the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Organization of Francophone Countries.

According to the UN, Madagascar belongs to the group of the least developed countries. Malagasy and French are the official languages ​​of the state. The majority of the population adheres to Christianity, traditional beliefs, or a combination of both. Ecotourism and agriculture, coupled with increased investment in education, health care, and private enterprise, are essential elements of Madagascar's development strategy. Under Ravalomanan, these investments led to significant economic growth. Still, the benefits were not shared equally among the population, causing tensions with rising costs of living and declining living standards among the poor and some segments of the middle class. As of 2017, the economy has been weakened by the political crisis of 2009-2013, and the quality of life of the majority of the Malagasy population remains low.