France–Madagascar relations are the diplomatic relations between the

French Republic France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

and the Republic of Madagascar. France controlled Madagascar beginning in 1895 until the islands nation's independence in 1960. Both nations are today members of the

Francophonie Francophonie is the quality of speaking French. The term designates the ensemble of people, organisations and governments that share the use of French on a daily basis and as administrative language, teaching language or chosen language. The ...

and the United Nations.

History

French colonization

In 1643, the French East India Company came to Madagascar and built a fort in the southern town of Fort Dauphin (today known as Tôlanaro). For the next 30 years, the French maintained a fort there until 1674.History of Madagascar
/ref> Since then, many French pirates operated on the island and maintained homes on nearby Île Sainte-Marie. In 1883, the French government sent a military expedition to Madagascar which soon escalated into an armed conflict between the Malagasy and the French and became known as the First Franco-Hova War (1893-1895). After the war, Madagascar became a French Protectorate. Soon after the end of the war, a second conflict began between the royal government of Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar and the French military escalating into the Second Franco-Hova War (1894-1895). In 1895, Queen Ranavalona surrendered and in 1896 Madagascar was formerly annexed by France. During World War II Madagascar fell under control of Vichy France. From May through November 1942, the Battle of Madagascar took place on the northern tip of the island nation near the town of

Antsiranana Antsiranana ( mg, Antsiran̈ana ), named Diego-Suárez prior to 1975, is a city in the far north of Madagascar. Antsiranana is the capital of Diana Region. It had an estimated population of 115,015 in 2013. History The bay and city originally u ...

(also known as Diego-Suarez). Allied forces feared that the Japanese government would take Madagascar and use it as a base to control the Indian Ocean. In May 1942, British and allied force invaded Madagascar and defeated the French forces loyal to Vichy in November 1942.

Independence

Soon after the war, Madagascar began to demand independence from France. In March 1947, the

Malagasy Uprising The Malagasy Uprising (french: Insurrection malgache; mg, Tolom-bahoaka tamin' ny 1947) was a Malagasy nationalist rebellion against French colonial rule in Madagascar, lasting from March 1947 to February 1949. Starting in late 1945, Madagasca ...

began and lasted until December 1948 when French forces defeated the Malagasy rebels. Madagascar moved towards greater autonomy in several stages between 1958 and 1960. France offered three options in the constitutional referendum of September 1958: to be an overseas territory; a department; or "a state ..that will deal with the French republic on a basis of equality... within the larger community". The Malagasy's chose the latter option. However throughout the regime of Tsiranana (1959–72) the relationship to France remained strong, with French representation in the provincial assemblies and a French role in military and intelligence affairs, while the currency was linked to the French franc.

Post Independence

Since obtaining independence, relations between both nations remain strong, both politically and culturally. Leaders of both nations have paid state visits to the each other's nations, respectively, and Madagascar is huge recipient of French government aid and development assistance.French Foreign Ministry: Madagascar
/ref> Madagascar is home to several thousand French expatriates and France is also home to a large Malagasy diaspora.

Trade

In 2018, bilateral trade between both nations amounted to €999 million. Madagascar's main export products to France include: textiles, agricultural and fish products whereas France's main exports to Madagascar include: mechanical and electrical machinery and processed food and drinks. Several French multinational companies operate in Madagascar particularly in the banking, telephone and energy industries. French companies such as

Crédit Agricole Crédit Agricole Group (), sometimes called La banque verte ( en, The green bank) due to its historical ties to farming, is a French international banking group and the world's largest cooperative financial institution. It is France's second lar ...

, Société Générale, Orange and

Total Total may refer to: Mathematics * Total, the summation of a set of numbers * Total order, a partial order without incomparable pairs * Total relation, which may also mean ** connected relation (a binary relation in which any two elements are comp ...

all have offices and operate in Madagascar.

Resident diplomatic missions

* France has an embassy in Antananarivo. * Madagascar has an embassy in Paris and consulates-general in Marseille and Saint-Denis.Embassy of Madagascar in Paris (in French)
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:France-Madagascar Madagascar Bilateral relations of Madagascar Relations of colonizer and former colony