Madagascar Army - History
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 freepersons augmented these core units. Theoretically, military service was obligatory for all males, but 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 acknowledge French authority. After a French expeditionary force occupied the capital in September 1895, Queen Ranavalona III recognized the protectorate.
The Menalamba ("red togas," also given as "red cloth" and "red shawls"—armed guerrilla bands) revolt broke out between 1895 and 1899, 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 cotiers (literally coastal people, an 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 died 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.
On the eve of its independence, Madagascar had to organize its defense by creating a national army. The project was adapted to the actual data taken into account by the strategists of the time. The proposed creation of national armed forces, a symbol of regained sovereignty was ongoing. It was finalized 13 May 1960 at successive meetings of the President of the Republic, Philibert Tsiranana with the Army General Garbay, Inspector troops overseas, the Medical Inspector Monkfish, Director of the Health Service in the Armed Madagascar and General Cathoulic, Inspector of Police from across the sea. June 26, 1960, the first elements of the Malagasy Armed Forces received their flag.
The components of the new army and the cooperation model were adapted to those of the French Army. This choice was due to two major reasons. Madagascar was among the countries members of the Community and must harmonize its defense with the overall defense strategy of the French Army; the new Army was facing many problems of organization and equipment. The President of the Republic was the Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces.
Two army regiments were created (1 RIAM, 2nd RIAM) and under the command of the Head of State - General Staff of the Armed Forces in the person of Colonel RAMANANTSOA. The 1 RIAM had a headquarters company, two rifle companies outfielders, a parachute company, a squad of light reconnaissance vehicles based in Antananarivo and outfielders rifle company based in Mahajanga. The 2nd RIAM: a headquarters company, a rifle outfielders company based in Tulear and outfielders rifle company based in Fianarantsoa. Scheduled to 5000 men, the Force also included a legion of gendarmerie based in Antananarivo with its state - Major, local brigades, companies, and mobile platoons in district capitals.
The new Army had the support and assistance of the French Army at the technical level, especially in the implementation of the service stewardship, service equipment and buildings and health service. In short, the French Army continued to make its presence in the large island in Antananarivo Ivato Diègo Suarez, Antsirabe, Tamatave and Fort-Dauphin.
The main purpose of defense was then the safeguarding sovereignty and national identity on the military, political, social, economic, cultural. The Malagasy Republic had two major assets: its people and its natural resources. Unfortunately, she was handicapped by the lack of financial resources, by the weakness of its social and economic development, the lack of cohesion inherent in a young nation finally by the inadequacy of the pace of life and the structures Malagasy requirements the modern world. Given this situation, the Defence of the Nation could only be assured by these strategists at the cost of mobilization of all energies and all available resources.
This required in particular the rational development of cultivable land and education of the people. It should show fierce determination to defense of the country that is expressed by a desire to work and a desire to progress. It is in this perspective that Ordinance No. 62-022 dated 19 September 1962 on the organization of Defence created the National Service for defending and promoting the nation, and that included, firstly, the Military service performed in the Army and oriented towards specific military needs of defense, and secondly, the Civic Service oriented non-military needs of defense, in particular economic and social needs. The latter was then placed under the authority of the Commissioner General Civic Service.
The Civic Service was to train men, improving their potential by developing their skills in the economic and social development, make trainers facilitators from the population, constitute reserves capable of defending the country in the sense defined by Ordinance No. 60-118 of 30 September 1960, finally awareness-national and civic consciousness.
Like the Armed Forces of the Western countries, particularly those of France, the Malagasy Armed Forces were kept out of politics: it was a taboo area for them. From May 1972, however, following the failure of political power led by civilians, elements of the Armed Forces were called to power. And even those who remained in the barracks found themselves more or less involved in politics by force of circumstance. During the revision of the Cooperation Agreement, it was agreed that as of September 1, 1973, common defense responsibilities exercised since June 27, 1960 with the French Republic are now fully supported by the Malagasy Republic. The French Army then transferred to the Malagasy Forces facilities previously available to them through a Special Commission.
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