The passage of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to Madagascar was significant. The Malagasy authorities, who have prepared his arrival for at least two months, can congratulate themselves. Small imperfections, in this case the sudden cut of electricity coinciding with the speech of His Excellency Mr. Andry Rajoelina, who precisely evoked the problem of energy in his country, do nothing to the beauty of the ceremonies.
The welcome was warm. Just by seeing the two flags, Malagasy and French, brandished by the fellow citizens by the road, the ancients felt an “already seen”: that of the visit of General Charles de Gaulle in 1958. Apparently, the affinity towards France remains. The anchoring seems so deep that it is expressed by palpable smiles and enthusiasm.
Resignation
Many forget that it is the fifth French head of state to have walked the ground of the Big Island, and not the first! This perception is due to the feeling of insignificance nourished by certain compatriots. Madagascar, this nation of 587,041 km², has unfortunately not yet found its place on the international scene. It was not until the outing of the cartoon bearing the name of the fourth largest island in the world to hear Western children pronounce it.
Then, an idea sparked Mr. Rajoelina’s hat to make this fiction somewhat real: “bringing giraffes, zebras as well as lions”.
In addition, the efforts made by Nicolas Dupuis and his players during the CAN 2019 in Egypt were welcomed by the African brothers, thus contributing to increasing, in a dazzling way, the popularity of Madagascar.
However, these facts are considered to be ephemeral. The country has immense wealth that the Malagasy themselves hardly perceive. These resources, however, arouse the lust of Vazaha. In addition, its geographical position plays a key role in the Southwest Region of the Indian Ocean.
Continuity
In addition, Emmanuel Macron’s response to the question of the scattered islands turned out to be very clear. The Malagasy press had speculated a lot on the subject, the previous week.
Indeed, France and Madagascar share a common history. The 64 years of colonization were an eventful and tumultuous period. Despite this boiling episode, Macron wishes to turn the page, although it is filled with toes.
Young historian Alex Randriamahefa explains: “ The passage of Macron is for me the realization of the continuity of close ties between Madagascar and France. It confirms, geopolitically, the position of Madagascar. The declarations of the French president also show a strengthening of their presence in the Indian Ocean on the military level and the perpetuation of cooperation agreements. They also mark a historical advance in the work of memory, in particular on the questions of the restitution of the skulls of the high personalities Sakalava – in particular the “supposed” skull of King Toera and his two soldiers – as well as the creation of a mixed commission on the events of 1947. There, France assumes and recognizes its role and wants to advance things.
Madagascar, for its part, receives yet another promise of development projects to fight poverty. Nothing new under the sun, if not an interest always very special for its mining resources. »»
ISS HERIDINY
