Madagascar: Seizure of power - timeline
Searching more than 75 years of world history
- March 2009. President Ravalomanana loses the backing of the army and is replaced by the youthful former mayor of Antananarivo (the capital) Andry Rajoelina.
- February 2009. The country is paralysed by a serious power struggle between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina.
- January 2009. Violent anti-government protests erupt in Antananarivo.
- March 2008. The country's first oil is pumped from the onshore Tsimiroro field.
- September 2007. Elections to the National Assembly result in an overwhelming victory for Ravalomanana's I Love Madagascar party (TIM).
- April 2007. Ravalomanana's powers are increased by national referendum.
- December 2006. Presidential elections result in victory for incumbent Ravalomanana.
- December 2002. Legislative elections are won by President Ravalomanana.
- July 2002. A low-level civil war ends when Ratsiraka flees the country and forces loyal to Ravalomanana gain complete control.
- May 2002. Ravalomanana is sworn into office as president.
- February 2002. Ravalomanana proclaims himself president.
- December 2001. Inconclusive presidential elections lead to a stand-off between President Didier Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana.
- May 1998. Ratsiraka's Avant-garde de la revolution malgache (AREMA) party wins National Assembly elections.
- March 1998. Ratsiraka consolidates his position with the strengthening of presidential powers in a constitutional referendum.
- January 1997. Ratsiraka returns as president having defeated incumbent President Albert Zafy in a tight contest.
- September 1996. Prolonged tension between the executive and the legislature is brought to an end when the National Assembly succeeds in impeaching Zafy.
- June 1993. Political groupings supporting Zafy secure a majority in the National Assembly.
- February 1993. Ratsiraka's 17-year rule is ended when Albert Zafy, leader of the opposition pro-democracy Comit des forces vives, wins the presidential election.
- August 1992. A new constitution - which reduces the power of the president - is ratified by a popular referendum.
- May 1990. Ratsiraka survives a coup attempt.
- March 1989. Ratsiraka is returned to office for a third seven-year presidential term.
- February 1987. Many families of Indian and Pakistani origins flee after attacks on their retail businesses.
- December 1985. The "kung fu riots" erupt when the government moves to suppress an alleged 'state within a state'.
- November 1982. Ratsiraka is re-elected as president, easily defeating Monja Jaona, the leader of Monima.
- June 1977. Legislative elections are won by President Ratsirakas AREMA party.
- December 1975. The "second Malagasy Republic" (the Democratic Republic of Madagascar) is declared and approved in a referendum with Ratsiraka as president.
- June 1975. The six military provincial governors elect Ratsiraka as the new head of state and government.
- January 1975. In the wake of an economic and political crisis, Gen. Gabriel Ramanantsoa resigns as head of state; his successor, Col Richard Ratsimandrava, is assassinated within weeks.
- November 1972. Diplomatic relations are established with China and the Soviet Union; contact with South Africa ends.
- October 1972. President Philibert Tsiranana resigns.
- May 1972. Student protests are crushed, but so much unrest is created that Tsiranana dissolves the government and transfers executive powers to Ramanantsoa, the army chief of staff.
- January 1972. Tsiranana, the sole candidate, is re-elected for a third seven-year term by an overwhelming majority.
- April 1971. An anti-government revolt in the south is suppressed, but support for the Tsiranana regime is badly undermined.
- September 1970. Parliamentary elections result in an overwhelming victory for the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD).
- March 1965. Tsiranana is re-elected for a second seven-year term with 97 per cent of the votes cast.
- February 1969. Madagascar joins some 30 other countries at the first francophonie conference in Niger.
- June 1960. The full independence of Madagascar (the Malagasy Republic) is proclaimed.
- October 1958. The gradual development of French structures for self-government, as elsewhere in Africa, leads to the creation of an autonomous Malagasy Republic within the French community.
- March 1947. An insurrection aimed at the overthrow of the French administration and the establishment of Madagascan independence is launched by the Mouvement Democratique de Renovation-Malgache (MDRM).
- May 1942. British forces land to forestall a Japanese move against the French naval base of Diego Suarez.
