DIDIER RATSIRAKA

Didier Ratsiraka was born on November 4, 1936, in Vatomandry, located in the Atsinanana Region of Madagascar, during the period of French colonial rule. His father, Albert Ratsiraka, was an active member of the Parti des déshérités de Madagascar and served as a Malagasy official within the French colonial administration. Didier's educational journey took him to Paris, where he attended the prestigious Lycée Henri-IV before graduating from the École navale, the French naval academy, in 1962. Afterward, he returned to Madagascar and commenced his naval career as a naval ensign at the French naval and military base in Diego-Suarez.

In 1964, Ratsiraka married Céline Velonjara in a Roman Catholic ceremony, and the couple welcomed four children: Olga, Sophie, Annick, and Xavier. Rising through the ranks, he initially served as a military attaché at the Malagasy embassy in Paris before being appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Gabriel Ramanantsoa's transitional government from 1972 to 1975. As foreign minister, he played a crucial role in renegotiating the Franco-Malagasy cooperation agreements and oversaw Madagascar’s exit from the CFA franc zone in 1972.

Known as the "Red Admiral," Ratsiraka became head of state on June 15, 1975, appointed by the military leadership as the President of the Supreme Revolutionary Council. He was affectionately nicknamed "Deba," meaning "the Big Man" in Malagasy. Under his leadership, Madagascar began to adopt a socialist system, outlined in the Charter of the Malagasy Socialist Revolution, which was approved in a referendum in December 1975, marking the establishment of the Second Republic. Ratsiraka's political party, AREMA, was founded in 1976 and became the leading force in the political alliance known as the Vanguard of the Malagasy Revolution (FNDR).

Despite initial socialist policies, Ratsiraka shifted his approach due to economic challenges and implemented reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund. He was re-elected as President in 1982 and again in 1989, although the latter election faced accusations of fraud, resulting in violent protests that claimed at least 75 lives. As unrest grew in 1991, large-scale protests ensued, culminating in the signing of the Panorama Convention in October, which established a provisional government and curtailed many of Ratsiraka's powers, although he remained president.

Ratsiraka faced a significant defeat in the 1992 presidential election, losing to Albert Zafy, but made a political comeback in late 1996 when he won the presidency again. His second term began in February 1997, amidst ongoing tensions with opposition parties. However, attempts to impeach him in early 1998 failed. A constitutional referendum in March 1998 expanded the president's powers, enabling Ratsiraka to dissolve the National Assembly and appoint the prime minister independently.

In 2001, Ratsiraka ran for re-election but finished second to Marc Ravalomanana, leading to a contested political crisis. Ratsiraka largely controlled the provinces while Ravalomanana held the capital. As the political struggle escalated, Ratsiraka fled to France in July 2002 amid increasing pressure and accusations of corruption related to public funds.

After nearly a decade in exile, Ratsiraka returned to Madagascar in November 2011, calling for political dialogue among Madagascar’s leaders. In 2015, he co-authored a book reflecting on his experiences and insights. In March 2021, he was hospitalized with a respiratory illness but later passed away on March 28 at the age of 84 from cardiac arrest. His death was met with national mourning, and he was interred in the Ambohitsaina Mausoleum in Antananarivo, with the government declaring March 29 a day of remembrance for his contributions to Madagascar.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Ratsiraka