Madagascar

## Administration

### Government

Unitary one-party socialist republic under a party-state consortium* **Supreme Leader**: Monja Roindefo
* **Prime Minister**: Didier Ratsiraka

### Legislature

Supreme Revolutionary People’s Council

The **Socialist People's** **Republic of Madagascar (SPRM)**, commonly known as **Madagascar**, is an island country lying off the southeastern coast of Africa. It is the world's fourth largest island, the second-largest island country and the 46th largest country in the world. Its capital is Tanànamena (formerly Tananarive). It has a population of 16.22 million people.

The SPRM consists of an eponymous main island and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from Africa during the Early Jurassic, around 180 million years ago, and split from the Indian subcontinent around 90 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation; consequently, it is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, with over 90% of wildlife being endemic. The island has a subtropical to tropical maritime climate.

Until the late 18th century, the island of Madagascar was ruled by a fragmented assortment of shifting sociopolitical alliances. Beginning in the early 19th century, most of it was united and ruled as the Kingdom of Madagascar by a series of Merina nobles. The monarchy was ended in 1897 by the annexation by France, from which Madagascar gained independence in 1951 during the Malagasy Revolution. Immediately, Madagascar suffered a horrible famine, which was addressed with international aid and corrected by 1954. The Great Socialist Expanse Initiative (1956-1968) dramatically reduced overcrowding and increased yield by establishing permanent settlements in the countryside. This campaign resulted in a dramatic population and economic boost. Over the course of his tenor up, up until the end of the cold war, Monja Jaona's administration embraced Malagasy isolationism. Madagascar was loosely allied to France following its communist takeover before the Social Decolonization Program (1968-1980) which saw the Malagasization of society, a purge of academia, and the electrification of the country. The campaign primarily targeted pro-French elements, but also targeted pro-Soviet and pro-American elements. The motivation for this was complete political independence, although this caused Malagasy-French relations to be strained. Traditions thought to be backwards were rigorously persecuted. Despite the extensiveness of the campaign, Madagascar and France officially normalized relations in 1990. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the normalization of ties with France, the Socialist People's Malagasy Republic went through a brief opening up period before doubling down on its isolationism after Monja Jaona's death and Ratsirika's subsequent rise to power in 1994.

According to Article 1 of the Socialist Constitution, the SPMR is an "independent socialist state". It holds elections, although its unique electoral system does not challenge the institution of the ruling party. Monja Roindefo has served as leader of the ruling National Democratic Labor Party since 1994.

## Society

Madagascar's population in 1951 was 4,050,682. It has over quadrupled since in the last 49 years to 16.22 million due to pro-natalist policies. With the exception of French, Mozambican, Indian, Comorian, and Zimbabwean nationals, Madagascar's population is almost entirely Malagasy.

### Health

Madagascar's life expectancy is approximately 80 years, making it the highest in Africa. This is attributed not only to the country's extensive subsidized healthcare programs, but also due to extreme dietary restrictions. Junk food has been banned from shelves and is considered toxic due to its artificial sugar content by the Food & Drug Bureau of the SPMR. State media has led a propaganda campaign against junk food and in favor of fruits and natural sweeteners, with which smoothies and parfaits are promoted as delicious desserts. The Ranch Management Bureau, a political organ unique to Madagascar, is tasked with inspecting ranches throughout the country and making sure they meet the standard of raising free range animals that are not fed just scraps and grain. Quality vegetation is required to be at least 50% of their diet in order to make the shelves of the supermarkets, which are all state-owned. Livestock are also randomly tested for hormonal imbalances.

### Education

The 1998 census listed the entire population as literate. A 13-year free, compulsory cycle of education is provided to the entirety of the population. This was made easy by the population's initial concentration into a select number of settlements across the country. During the Great Socialist Expanse Initiative, needed facilities (including educational centers) were required in or near each settlement. Students normally graduate from secondary schools around the age of 16, then usually either end up pursuing university or military service. Scholarships are granted to gifted students, while the military is always an option for those who cannot find anything else to do. The military often provides experience with basic training, construction, plumbing, engineering, and other forms of community service. The prevalence of ideological subjects unifies both the military and tertiary education paths.

### Government and politics

The National Democratic Labor Party maintains a total monopoly on the country's politics, serving at the helm of a unitary one-party system. Local elections are held, however, nominations are granted by localities exclusively for notable participation in the country's socialist system through community service. These nominations are usually rubber stamped by the Politburo of the NDLP, although there are occasional denials for nomination. Didier Ratsiraka has been prime minister since Jaona's death in 1994, while Monja Roindefo, his son, has been supreme leader since 1994.

##### Foreign relations

* **Harare Treaty Organization member states:** The intervention by the Malagasy Revolutionary Army in Mozambique helped FRELIMO defeat the Portuguese and later defeat insurgencies. Madagascar was the second country to recognize Zimbabwe. Namibia and Comoros have had close ties to Madagascar since 1990 and both were admitted into the HTO in 1991. The stated goal of the HTO is to "promote self-sufficiency in its member-states".
* **Malagasy-French relations:** The SPRM and the French People's Union have maintained cordial ties since relations were normalized in 1990. While the two have a complicated history, the two are very strong allies today and even have extensive economic, military and security ties.

* **Malagasy-Indian relations:** Madagascar has had cordial ties with India throughout the cold war, and today the countries share strong economic and military ties.
* **Malagasy-Syrian relations:** The NDLP draws from the SSNP's position on the national question. Even during the Social Decolonization Program, Syria maintained close relations with Madagascar despite also having close relations with France. Madagascar and Syria are very close allies and share extensive economic, military, and political ties.
* **Malagasy-Zaire relations:** Madagascar and Zaire consider one another security threats. The two have not seen eye-to-eye and relations have been strained since the 70s.
* **Malagasy-Korean relations:** Madagascar maintains close political, economic, military, and ideological ties with the DPRK and recognizes it as the sole legitimate government of the Korean peninsula.

### Human rights

Monja Roindefo once claimed in an interview with French press that is has the "most advanced human rights in Africa and maybe the world".

##### Mafivaso

Madagascar has one of the largest domestic intelligence agencies in the world. The Socialist People's Security Agency, generally called the Mafivaso by the general population, is thought to employ 1 out of every 120 Malagasy citizens. They keep tabs on small-scale gatherings that could potentially be threats to domestic security.

##### Forced labor

The Supreme Revolutionary People's Court makes use of what it calls "Real Rehabilitative Justice". Where fines and community services aren't used, plenty of guilty verdicts result in people being sent to do hard labor. During time spent in these labor camps, people undergo ideological training and often learn skills such as engineering. It is used by the government as a funnel to the military.

Citizens can volunteer to join the forced labor camps. Most politicians that were accepted by the Politburo have volunteered at least twice, making it a general expectation.

## Historical background

### Malagasy Uprising & Revolution (1945-1951)

The National Democratic Labor Party was formed in 1945 by bookkeeper Monja Jaona and his close associates as a revolutionary socialist party. While drawing from Marxism-Leninism, he immediately established the party's doctrine as a unique one, inspired by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party from his time in Syria and Paetel's *National Bolshevik Manifesto*, while also drawing heavily from the works of Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Karl Marx. His views are also reported to have been influenced by Malagasy mystics from the colonial era. All of these ideas were formalized as "national democratic theory" while the NDLP has officially immortalized an amalgamation of his policies as Monja Jaona Thought since his death in 1994.

Monja Jaona rallied support for the party among residents of the capital and was arrested twice, being accused of inciting riots. The Malagasy Uprising took place in 1947, with heavy involvement from the NDLP, which had aligned itself with several secret societies. The NDLP arranged weapon-smuggling operations with the assistance of French communists and sympathizers from mainland Africa. It established itself as the paramount organization in the Malagasy Revolution, which saw colonial rule uprooted and French colonial sympathizers forced to flee. Negotiations with the French People's Union in 1951 allowed Madagascar to declare independence and Monja Jaona proclaimed the Socialist People's Republic that same day. The capital was renamed to Tanànamena meaning Red City.

The idea behind the country's official name, according to Jaona, is that "the republic is for the socialist people, as a republic is not socialist without a socialist population".

### Malagasy famine (1951-1956)

Madagascar immediately faced a famine as a result of the extensive fighting and sabotage by covert elements of the French colonial establishment that lingered even after official French withdrawal. These elements were purged extensively, with thousands of accused collaborators sentenced to death by firing squad. With the fourth famine in the last sixty years, and Jaona blamed this cycle of famine on "irresponsible, mostly colonial, policy". He remedied the situation by 1956 making use of what little aid was accepted and extensive state intervention in the agricultural sector, seizing foodstuffs from hoarders and punishing them severely, sometimes with death.

### Great Socialist Expanse Initiative (1956-1968)

Jaona believed that in order to bring a unique modernity to Madagascar, its people must have a deeper understanding of its landscape; a new Madagascar could be born from a "Great Socialist Expanse". He launched the Great Socialist Expanse Initiative, which he claimed would be instrumental in fighting the cycle of famine in Madagascar by utilizing more farmland. Land was owned by a small, wealthy elite that opposed the NDLP. This small elite was purged in mid-1955, with little to no protest from the population. This purge in fact increased the NDLP's popularity among the peasantry, some of whom would go on to be fanatics of the regime that would later play an active role in the Social Decolonization Program.

### New settlements

    Villages across the country were oftentimes nomadic, oftentimes still reliant of hunting and gathering. Volunteers from the Malagasy Revolutionary Army assisted villagers with farming and ranching, constructing stables, fencing, and housing, while also helping to identify and utilize fertile land. Over 600 permanent settlements were established during the GSEI, all of which functioned as state-sponsored agricultural collectives. Thousands of miles worth of road was also paved and half of the villages were electrified. Since around 1959, settlements established during the GSEI have been colloquially known as *Jaonatanàna* or "Jaona towns".

#### National Democrats vs Social Democrats

Philbert Tsiranana's Social Democratic Party, a staunch opponent of the NDLP's regime, became the main opposition to the one-party establishment during the GSEI. Given the success of the initiative, however, the Social Democrats plummeted into irrelevancy by 1961 as political persecution made opponents of the regime more fringe. In 1963, the NDLP was made the only legal ruling party, and subsidiary parties within the Malagasy Front for National Democracy were merged into the ruling party. Members of the subsidiaries that either weren't accepted into the party or refused to join remained in the MFND as independents. The Social Democratic Party was dissolved in 1963 and Tsiranana fled Madagascar for France.

### Social Decolonization Program (1968-1980)

In 1967, Jaona mentioned in a speech that "big things" were coming. Having recently fallen out with Charles de Gaulle over disagreements relating to Tsiranana, a pro-de Gaulle politician, as well as trade policy, Jaona still accused lingering French colonial elements of attempting to sabotage the revolution. Due to the merging of parties into the NDLP, there were two significant Marxist-Leninist factions within the ruling party. One faction, the Andriamahazites, were pro-French, and other faction, the Ratsimandravites, were pro-Soviet. Jaona's camp saw both parties as potential threats to the sovereignty and independence of Madagascar, claiming that a "Krushchevite-Tsirananite conspiracy" was brewing within the party's ranks. After compiling a list of the politicians that composed these factions by use of the Socialist People's Security Agency, he had all but four of them purged from the party over the course of a year. While a few were simply expelled from the party, most were sentenced to forced labor for two years, then placed on house arrest. By just 1970, about half of Jaona's inner circle was purged, along with the majority of the military command. They were entirely replaced with loyalists that had shown "great courage and skill". Didier Ratsiraka fell into Jaona's favor during this period and was made his de facto second in command in 1971. From 1971 to 1980, fanatical supporters were encouraged by the NDLP to destroy remnants of French colonial rule in Madagascar. Statues, monuments, and entire buildings were desecrated and destroyed in the name of social decolonization. The Anti-French rhetoric, coupled with the French intervention against Madagascar-aligned Francisco Nguema in Equitorial Guinea in 1977, completely strained relations between the two countries. Some in both countries even spoke of a conflict between the two, although these talks of conflict died down by the end of the SDP in 1980. Still, the tensions remained.

#### Malagasization policy

During this time, the country underwent Malagasization. The French language was discouraged, and anything carrying a French name was ordered to be replaced with a name that had either a native or revolutionary spin to it. Literacy rates rose to 99% as a result of the Malagasization policy. Unsatisfied coastal communities, once nomadic and forced into settlements by the state since the initiation of the GSEI, protested Malagasization, accusing the NDLP of being a "second colonizer". These protests died down by 1980, however, as the political situation settled. The Malagasization policy continues to be upheld by the NDLP today, with the French language banned from primary schools, political party gatherings, and the media.

#### Domestic intelligence during the SDP

The Mafivaso throughout the Social Decolonization Program remained loyal entirely to Jaona, frequently alerting him of potential domestic security threats and even independently handling them. Didier Ratsiraka was made Chief of the Socialist People's Security Agency, with which position he assumed direct control of the political purges.

### Later Jaona Era (1980-1994)

Following the SDP, Jaona took a particular interest in rapid industrialization, experimentation with cybernetics, and renewable energy, investing heavily in nuclear power and hydropower. The country's first nuclear power plant was finished in 1980 with Indian assistance. The government also launched reforestation initiatives.

#### National Rejuvenation Campaign (1982-1990)

Two years after the conclusion of the SDP, Jaona announced the National Rejuvenation Campaign. The NRC plunged Madagascar into deeper isolation in an attempt to "revitalize the NDLP's unique creative socialist theoretical framework". Ideological subjects such as the primacy of *national democratic theory* became paramount in all studies throughout the educational system. The Institute of Natural Discovery was founded in 1983 and tasked with formalizing a "revolutionary understanding of the world alongside a unique application of the scientific method". The *Selected Works of Monja Jaona* officially became mandatory reading material in all fields around this time.

#### Intervention in Mozambique

Madagascar saw the conflict in Mozambique of particular interest, despite its usual isolationist outlook. Madagascar viewed FRELIMO as a potential strong ally. In 1985, tens of thousands of volunteers made their way into Mozambique, helping FRELIMO to consolidate power and defeat the Portuguese. This action prompted France to invade Portugal the same year, leading observers to believe this was the start of rekindled French-Malagasy relations. Madagascar, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe signed the Harare Treaty and formed the Harare Treaty Organization, the aim of which is to promote self-sufficiency in each of the states.

#### Brief opening up

In 1990, French and Malagasy diplomats met in Paris and signed the French-Malagasy Friendship Pact, officially normalizing relations between the two countries. Madagascar began experimenting with opening its economy to return-based investment to minimal success. The country also established closer political ties with countries across Africa, sending volunteers to help fight insurgencies. Comoros and Namibia were admitted into the HTO in 1991. In 1994, Jaona died and was succeeded by his son, Monja Roindefo, as supreme leader and Didier Ratsiraka as prime minister. After this brief period of opening up, the SPRM doubled down on its isolationist policies.

### Monja Roindefo era

After Jaona's son, Monja Roindefo, succeeded him as supreme leader, a failed coup attempt that involved a failed assassination took place in 1994. The blame was immediately pinned on US intelligence by Madagascar, who claimed that the US was attempting to throw Madagascar into unrest. Direct diplomatic relations were completely halted with the US. Since the incident, there has been widespread anti-American sentiment throughout Madagascar, with flag burning reportedly being popular among demonstrators.

Roindefo's administration, like his father's, has sought to expand Madagascar's missile technology with the addition of aspirations regarding submarine technology. In 1997, Roindefo conducted an interview with NBC News, and American outlet, which was a notable occurrence minding Madagascar's sociopolitical isolation.

## Economy

Madagascar has maintained one of the most closed and centralized economies in the world since 1958. It faced widespread embezzlement and corruption until 1970, when massive systematic precautions were put in place that are still in practice today, such as mandatory public finance hearings. In 1985, private ownership was officially legalized, although it remains heavily regulated by the government. Taxes were completely abolished for working class citizens in 1986, with only employers and other entities taxed. Still, smaller businesses face very low taxes, keeping prices low. Madagascar opened a portion of its economy to foreign return-based investment in what is now known as the "open-door experiment" in 1990, however, this policy was reversed in 1994.

Madagascar has the profile of an industrialized country. Human development is the highest in all of Africa. Madagascar is known to receive indirect foreign investment from shell companies and firms operated by its intelligence agency abroad in countries across the world, primarily in India, Russia, France. Spain, Myanmar, Italy, Brazil, China, and Colombia. This has generated an unknown amount of money, but some figures put it at 15% of Madagascar's GDP. Employee-ownership is enforced through all sectors of the economy, with state-mandated employee stock ownership programs.

The country has had what is called the Tsenam-Panjakana system or a "state market system" since 1975. It is commonly called the Tsepan for short. Local markets continue to operate as usual in cities and some towns, while the state purchases goods according to market price. These are put onto the state market, which functions as a state-operated national catalog available to individuals, companies, etc. It is used to buy goods in bulk or order smaller products for delivery. Due to Madagascar's efficient transport system, careful city planning, and supply networking schemes, the system is generally considered to have among the world's most efficient shipping services as reported by the government.

### Infrastructure and transport

Madagascar has maintained complete energy independence since 2003 which can be credited to its massive hydropower complex and singular nuclear power plant. Despite this, energy is still rationed and kept at fixed costs by the government in order to incentivize people to move or maintain a high credit score by offering write-offs for energy costs. Madagascar also has a few solar parks.

Transport infrastructure includes railways, highways, water, and air routes, although railway transport is the most popular. Biking is a popular option for many instances of local transport, with the government having emphasized people-oriented planning as opposed to car-oriented planning. Officially, no one in the country owns a vehicle, and instead must rent one to own. Vehicles are reportedly expensive, however, with most families opting to use vehicles to assist with the moving process. Well-off citizens can afford to rent cars more regularly while government officials are sometimes provided vehicles by the state. Local police are known to use motorcycles. Travel by horse is not particularly uncommon.