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Madagascar Armed Forces in National Life
Madagascar has a rich military history. During the
early
nineteenth century, the Merina kings relied on the army to
extend
their control through most of Madagascar. A small
permanent force
of career soldiers formed the backbone of the royal army.
Periodic levies of freemen augmented these core units.
Theoretically, military service was obligatory for all
males.
However, conscription laws excused sons of members of the
ruling
class and barred slaves from serving in the army. All
soldiers
shared in the spoils of war as the Merina expanded and
consolidated their control over the island.
During the 1820s, the army's size increased to about
14,000
professional soldiers. Britain, hoping to counter French
influence in Madagascar, furnished new weapons,
ammunition,
uniforms, and technical assistance to the army. The
British also
helped reorganize and train the army.
Increasing French interest in Madagascar prompted
numerous
clashes with the island's indigenous forces. Between 1883
and
1885, France launched several attacks on Madagascar. To
end
hostilities, the Merina recognized French control over
Diego
Suarez, agreed to pay an indemnity, and allowed a French
resident
at Antananarivo to control the country's foreign
relations. In
1894 France declared a protectorate over the island but
the
Malagasy refused to recognize French authority. As a
result, in
September 1895 a French expeditionary force occupied the
capital
and obtained recognition of the protectorate from Queen
Ranavalona III.
A Menalamba (red cloth) revolt broke out, however,
among
Merina conservatives against the institutions and agents
of a
repressive state-church society. Some observers also have
suggested that the revolt was an attempt to overthrow the
newly
established colonial government. France reacted to this
unrest by
exiling the queen and the former prime minister to Algeria
and by
declaring Madagascar a French colony. The new French
governor,
General Joseph Gallieni, eventually pacified the country
and
carried out many reforms, including the abolition of
slavery.
During the French period, which lasted from 1896 to
1960, the
Malagasy could be conscripted into the colonial forces.
During
World War I and World War II, several thousand Malagasy
served in
France, North Africa, and other combat zones. After 1945
many
Malagasy started agitating for independence. In March
1947, the
Merina, who regarded themselves as Madagascar's genuine
rulers,
and some côtiers, members of another ethnic group,
staged
an uprising against the French. The island's colonial
governor
responded by unleashing a reign of terror against the
rebels.
Estimates of the numbers of Malagasy who perished in the
revolt
ranged from 11,000 to 80,000 (relatively few French
soldiers died
during the fighting). Notwithstanding these losses, France
retained its influence in Madagascar, even after the
island
gained its independence.
During the postcolonial period, the Malagasy armed
forces
reflected the French heritage. Military personnel
continued to
receive training in France and to use French-manufactured
weapons. Moreover, with the exception of a brief period in
the
late 1970s, French military advisers continued to serve in
Madagascar.
Data as of August 1994
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