Madagascar: Seven Month Chaos

Part of the Series: Revolutions Series

December 16, 2001: Madagascar, one of the world's poorest countries falls into chaos. The roots of this crisis are two men fighting to control disputed election results: Didier Ratsiraka, the incumbent president, and his foe, Marc Ravalomanana, the presidential candidate. For seven months, Madagascar is asphyxiated by this turmoil: barricades are set up, tortures take place and the crisis escalates into a true civil war. The political calamity ends in 2002 with the official recognition of Marc Ravalomanana by the United States. Ratsitraka flees the country, leaving behind an unimaginable humanitarian, political and economic catastrophe, whose consequences for the Malagasy people are still immeasurable.