Editing Madagascar (section)

==Government==
===Structure===
{{Main|Government of Madagascar|Cabinet of Madagascar}}
[[File:Antananarivo05.jpg|thumb|left|[[Antananarivo]] is the political and economic capital of Madagascar.]]
Madagascar is a [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] [[Diversity (politics)|multi-party]] republic, wherein the popularly elected president is the head of state and selects a [[Prime Minister of Madagascar|prime minister]], who recommends candidates to the president to form his cabinet of ministers. According to the [[Constitution of Madagascar|constitution]], executive power is exercised by the government while legislative power is vested in the ministerial cabinet,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mg.mofcom.gov.cn/article/chinanews/202110/20211003206640.shtml|title=Liste des institutions gouvernementales de Madagascar (août 2021)|website=mofcom.gov.cn|access-date=13 October 2021|archive-date=13 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013121808/http://mg.mofcom.gov.cn/article/chinanews/202110/20211003206640.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Senate of Madagascar|Senate]] and the [[National Assembly of Madagascar|National Assembly]], although in reality these two latter bodies have very little power or legislative role. The constitution establishes independent executive, legislative and judicial branches and mandates a popularly elected president limited to three five-year terms.<ref name=BGNote/>

The public directly elects the president and the 151 members of the National Assembly to five-year terms. All 18 members of the Senate serve six-year terms, with 12 senators elected by local officials and 6 appointed by the president.

At the local level, the island's 23 regions are administered by a governor and regional council. Provinces are further subdivided into regions and communes. The judiciary is modeled on the French system, with a High Constitutional Court, High Court of Justice, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, criminal tribunals, and tribunals of first instance.<ref name=justiceMada>Nalla (2010), pp. 122–128</ref> The courts, which adhere to [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]], lack the capacity to quickly and transparently try the cases in the judicial system, often forcing defendants to pass lengthy pretrial detentions in unsanitary and overcrowded prisons.<ref name=mediainfo/>

Antananarivo is the administrative capital and largest city of Madagascar.<ref name=BGNote/> It is located in the highlands region, near the geographic center of the island. King Andrianjaka founded Antananarivo as the capital of his Imerina Kingdom around 1610 or 1625 upon the site of a captured Vazimba capital on the hilltop of [[Twelve sacred hills of Imerina#Hill of Analamanga|Analamanga]].<ref name=vazimbadjp/> As Merina dominance expanded over neighboring Malagasy peoples in the early 19th century to establish the Kingdom of Madagascar, Antananarivo became the center of administration for virtually the entire island. In 1896 the French colonizers of Madagascar adopted the Merina capital as their center of colonial administration. The city remained the capital of Madagascar after regaining independence in 1960. In 2017, the capital's population was estimated at 1,391,433 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/madagascar-population/cities/|title=Population of Cities in Madagascar (2017)|website=worldpopulationreview.com|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015204227/http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/madagascar-population/cities/|url-status=live}}</ref> The next largest cities are [[Antsirabe]] (500,000), [[Toamasina]] (450,000) and [[Mahajanga]] (400,000).<ref name=BGNote/>

===Politics===
{{Main|Politics of Madagascar|Foreign relations of Madagascar|Human rights in Madagascar}}

[[File:Andry Rajoelina greeting crowd.jpg|thumb|190px|Madagascar's President [[Andry Rajoelina]]]]

Since Madagascar gained independence from France in 1960, the island's political transitions have been marked by numerous popular protests, several disputed elections, an impeachment, two military coups and one assassination. The island's recurrent political crises are often prolonged, with detrimental effects on the local economy, international relations and Malagasy living standards. The eight-month standoff between incumbent Ratsiraka and challenger Marc Ravalomanana following the 2001 presidential elections cost Madagascar millions of dollars in lost tourism and trade revenue as well as damage to infrastructure, such as bombed bridges and buildings damaged by arson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=47721 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110613014315/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=47721 |archive-date = 13 June 2011|url-status=live |title=MADAGASCAR: Former president sentenced to five years in prison |publisher=Irinnews.org |date= 17 December 2003 |access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref> [[2009 Malagasy protests|A series of protests]] led by Andry Rajoelina against Ravalomanana in early 2009 became violent, with more than 170 people killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=83838 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110613015554/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=83838 |archive-date = 13 June 2011 |url-status=live |title=Madagascar: Appeal launched despite political uncertainty |publisher=Irinnews.org |date= 7 April 2009 |access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref> Modern politics in Madagascar are colored by the history of Merina subjugation of coastal communities under their rule in the 19th century. The consequent tension between the highland and coastal populations has periodically flared up into isolated events of violence.<ref name=ethnicstrife>{{cite news |last = Leithead |first = Alastair |title = Ethnic strife rocks Madagascar |newspaper=BBC News |date = 14 May 2002 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1987383.stm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120326234124/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1987383.stm |archive-date = 26 March 2012 |url-status=live |access-date =22 January 2012}}</ref>

Madagascar has historically been perceived as being on the margin of mainstream African affairs despite being a founding member of the [[Organisation of African Unity]], which was established in 1963 and dissolved in 2002 to be replaced by the [[African Union]]. Madagascar was not permitted to attend the first African Union summit because of a dispute over the results of the 2001 presidential election, but rejoined the African Union in July 2003 after a 14-month hiatus. Madagascar was again suspended by the African Union in March 2009 following the [[2009 Malagasy political crisis|unconstitutional transfer of executive power]] to Rajoelina.<ref>{{cite news |title = Pressure grows on Madagascar coup |work=BBC News |date = 20 March 2009 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7954356.stm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110629015627/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7954356.stm |archive-date = 29 June 2011 |url-status=live |access-date =30 March 2009}}</ref> Madagascar is a member of the [[International Criminal Court]] with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the [[United States military]].<ref name=BGNote/> Eleven countries have established embassies in Madagascar, including France, the United Kingdom, the United States, China and India,<ref>{{cite web|title=Numéros utiles |publisher=AirMadagascar.com |date=28 January 2012 |url=http://www.airmadagascar.com/contact/numeros-utiles |access-date=28 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111226120416/http://www.airmadagascar.com/contact/numeros-utiles |archive-date=26 December 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead}}</ref> while Madagascar has [[List of diplomatic missions of Madagascar|embassies in sixteen other countries]].

Human rights in Madagascar are protected under the constitution and the state is a signatory to numerous international agreements including the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] and the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]].<ref name=DOS/> Religious, ethnic and sexual minorities are protected under the law. Freedom of association and assembly are also guaranteed under the law, although in practice the denial of permits for public assembly has occasionally been used to impede political demonstrations.<ref name=CrossroadsMarcus/><ref name=DOS>{{cite web |author = ((Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor)) |title = 2010 Human Rights Report: Madagascar |publisher = U.S. Department of State |date = 8 April 2011 |url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/160130.pdf |access-date = 10 July 2011 |archive-date = 20 March 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200320140731/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/160130.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref> Torture by security forces is rare and state repression is low relative to other countries with comparably few legal safeguards, although arbitrary arrests and the corruption of military and police officers remain problems. Ravalomanana's 2004 creation of BIANCO, an anti-corruption bureau, resulted in reduced corruption among Antananarivo's lower-level bureaucrats in particular, although high-level officials have not been prosecuted by the bureau.<ref name=CrossroadsMarcus/> Accusations of media [[censorship]] have risen due to the alleged restrictions on the coverage of government opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200904230849.html|title=''Madagascar: Media Under Attack One Month After New President Installed'', allafrica.com|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=13 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013163152/http://allafrica.com/stories/200904230849.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some journalists have been arrested for allegedly spreading [[fake news]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Madagascar journalist Arphine Helisoa jailed on false news, incitement allegation |url=https://cpj.org/2020/04/madagascar-journalist-arphine-helisoa-jailed-on-fa.php |work=Committee to Protect Journalists |date=22 April 2020 |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501132014/https://cpj.org/2020/04/madagascar-journalist-arphine-helisoa-jailed-on-fa.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Military and law enforcement===
{{Main|Military of Madagascar|Law enforcement in Madagascar}}
The rise of centralized kingdoms among the Sakalava, Merina and other ethnic groups produced the island's first standing armies by the 16th century, initially equipped with spears but later with muskets, cannons and other firearms.<ref>Barendse (2002), pp. 259–274</ref> By the early 19th century, the Merina sovereigns of the Kingdom of Madagascar had brought much of the island under their control by mobilizing an army of trained and armed soldiers numbering as high as 30,000.<ref name="army">Freeman & Johns (1840), p. 25</ref> French attacks on coastal towns in the later part of the century prompted then-Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony to solicit British assistance to provide training to the Merina monarchy's army. Despite the training and leadership provided by British military advisers, the Malagasy army was unable to withstand French weaponry and was forced to surrender following an attack on the royal palace at Antananarivo. Madagascar was declared a colony of France in 1897.<ref>Chapus & Mondain (1953), p. 377</ref>

The political independence and sovereignty of the Malagasy armed forces, which comprises an army, navy and air force, was restored with independence from France in 1960.<ref>{{cite web |title = The Military Balance 2010 |publisher = [[International Institute of Strategic Studies]] |pages = 314–315, 467 |url = http://moorishwanderer.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/2010_report.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511202850/http://moorishwanderer.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/2010_report.pdf |archive-date = 11 May 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date =1 April 2011}}</ref> Since this time the Malagasy military has never engaged in armed conflict with another state or within its own borders, but has occasionally intervened to restore order during periods of political unrest. Under the socialist Second Republic, Admiral Didier Ratsiraka instated mandatory national armed or civil service for all young citizens regardless of sex, a policy that remained in effect from 1976 to 1991.<ref>Sharp (2002), p. 87</ref><ref>Strakes (2006), p. 86</ref> The armed forces are under the direction of the Minister of Defense and have remained largely neutral during times of political crisis, as during the protracted standoff between incumbent Ratsiraka and challenger Marc Ravalomanana in the disputed 2001 presidential elections, when the military refused to intervene in favor of either candidate. This tradition was broken in 2009, when a segment of the army defected to the side of Andry Rajoelina, then-mayor of Antananarivo, in support of his attempt to force President Ravalomanana from power.<ref name=CrossroadsMarcus/>

The Minister of Interior is responsible for the national police force, paramilitary force (''gendarmerie'') and the secret police.<ref name=justiceMada/> The police and gendarmerie are stationed and administered at the local level. However, in 2009 fewer than a third of all communes had access to the services of these security forces, with most lacking local-level headquarters for either corps.<ref name=INSTAT/> Traditional community tribunals, called ''dina'', are presided over by elders and other respected figures and remain a key means by which justice is served in rural areas where state presence is weak. Historically, security has been relatively high across the island.<ref name=CrossroadsMarcus/> Violent crime rates are low, and criminal activities are predominantly crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing and petty theft, although child prostitution, human trafficking and the production and sale of marijuana and other illegal drugs are increasing.<ref name=justiceMada/> Budget cuts since 2009 have severely impacted the national police force, producing a steep increase in criminal activity in recent years.<ref name=CrossroadsMarcus/>

===Administrative divisions===
{{Main|Regions of Madagascar|Districts of Madagascar}}

Madagascar is subdivided into 23 regions (''faritra'').<ref name=BGNote/> The regions are further subdivided into 119 districts, 1,579 communes, and 17,485 ''fokontany''.<ref name=INSTAT>{{cite press release |title = Presentation des resultats de la cartographie numerique en preparation du troisieme recensement generale de la population et de l'habitation |publisher = Institut nationale de la statistique (INSTAT), Government of Madagascar |year = 2010|url = http://www.instat.mg/pdf/carto_poly.pdf |access-date =15 January 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120126200807/http://www.instat.mg/pdf/carto_poly.pdf |archive-date = 26 January 2012|url-status=dead |language=fr}}</ref>

{{stack|[[File:Regions_of_Madagascar_(2021).svg|center|200px|Regions of Madagascar]]}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Number <br>on map
! Region's name 
! Area <br>(km<sup>2</sup>) 
! Population <br>(2018 Census)<ref name=recensement2018>{{cite web|url=https://www.instat.mg/wp-content/uploads/Rapport-Prelim-2019_ver_final.pdf|title=Troisieme Recensement General de la Population et de L'Habitation (RGPH-3) Resultats Provisoires|publisher=Institut National de la Statistique Madagascar|access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref>
! Population <br>density <br>per km<sup>2</sup>
! Capital 
! Former <br>province 
|-
|align="right"|1 || [[Diana Region|Diana]] ||align="right"| 19,266 ||align="right"| 889,736 ||align="right"| 36.3 || [[Antsiranana]] || [[Antsiranana Province|Antsiranana]]
|-
|align="right"|2 || [[Sava Region|Sava]] ||align="right"| 25,518 ||align="right"| 1,123,013 ||align="right"| 38.4 || [[Sambava]] || [[Antsiranana Province|Antsiranana]]
|-
|align="right"|3 || [[Itasy Region|Itasy]] ||align="right"| 6,993 ||align="right"| 897,962 ||align="right"| 104.8 || [[Miarinarivo]] || [[Antananarivo Province|Antananarivo]]
|-
|align="right"|4 || [[Analamanga]] ||align="right"| 16,911 ||align="right"| 3,618,128 ||align="right"| 198.0 || [[Antananarivo]] || [[Antananarivo Province|Antananarivo]]
|-
|align="right"|5 || [[Vakinankaratra]] ||align="right"| 16,599 ||align="right"| 2,074,358 ||align="right"| 108.6 || [[Antsirabe]] || [[Antananarivo Province|Antananarivo]]
|-
|align="right"|6 || [[Bongolava]] ||align="right"| 16,688 ||align="right"| 674,474 ||align="right"| 27.4 || [[Tsiroanomandidy]] || [[Antananarivo Province|Antananarivo]]
|-
|align="right"|7 || [[Sofia Region|Sofia]] ||align="right"| 50,100 ||align="right"| 1,500,227 ||align="right"| 24.9 || [[Antsohihy]] || [[Mahajanga Province|Mahajanga]]
|-
|align="right"|8 || [[Boeny]] ||align="right"| 31,046 ||align="right"| 931,171 ||align="right"| 25.8 || [[Mahajanga]] || [[Mahajanga Province|Mahajanga]]
|-
|align="right"|9 || [[Betsiboka]] ||align="right"| 30,025 ||align="right"| 394,561 ||align="right"| 9.8 || [[Maevatanana]] || [[Mahajanga Province|Mahajanga]]
|-
|align="right"|10 || [[Melaky]] ||align="right"| 38,852 ||align="right"| 309,805 ||align="right"| 7.5 || [[Maintirano]] || [[Mahajanga Province|Mahajanga]]
|-
|align="right"|11 || [[Alaotra-Mangoro]] ||align="right"| 31,948 ||align="right"| 1,255,514 ||align="right"| 32.1 || [[Ambatondrazaka]] || [[Toamasina Province|Toamasina]]
|-
|align="right"|12 || [[Atsinanana]] ||align="right"| 21,934 ||align="right"| 1,484,403 ||align="right"| 57.9 || [[Toamasina]] || [[Toamasina Province|Toamasina]]
|-
|align="right"|13 || [[Analanjirofo]] ||align="right"|  21,930 ||align="right"| 1,152,345 ||align="right"| 47.2 || [[Fenoarivo Atsinanana]] || [[Toamasina Province|Toamasina]]
|-
|align="right"|14 || [[Amoron'i Mania]] ||align="right"| 16,141 ||align="right"| 833,919 ||align="right"| 44.3 || [[Ambositra]] || [[Fianarantsoa Province|Fianarantsoa]]
|-
|align="right"|15 || [[Haute Matsiatra|Matsiatra Ambony]] ||align="right"| 21,080 ||align="right"| 1,447,296 ||align="right"| 56.9 || [[Fianarantsoa]] || [[Fianarantsoa Province|Fianarantsoa]]
|-
|align="right"|16 || [[Vatovavy]] ||align="right"|  12,775|| align="right" | 705,675 ||align="right"| 72.2 || [[Mananjary, Fianarantsoa|Mananjary]] || [[Fianarantsoa Province|Fianarantsoa]]
|-
|align="right"|17 || [[Atsimo-Atsinanana]] ||align="right"| 18,863 ||align="right"| 1,026,674 ||align="right"| 47.6 || [[Farafangana]] || [[Fianarantsoa Province|Fianarantsoa]]
|-
|align="right"|18 || [[Ihorombe]] ||align="right"| 26,391 ||align="right"| 418,520 ||align="right"| 11.8 || [[Ihosy]] || [[Fianarantsoa Province|Fianarantsoa]]
|-
|align="right"|19 || [[Menabe]] ||align="right"| 46,121 ||align="right"| 700,577 ||align="right"| 12.8 || [[Morondava]] || [[Toliara Province|Toliara]]
|-
|align="right"|20 || [[Atsimo-Andrefana]] ||align="right"| 66,236 ||align="right"| 1,799,088 ||align="right"| 19.9 || [[Toliara]] || [[Toliara Province|Toliara]]
|-
|align="right"|21 || [[Androy]] ||align="right"| 19,317 ||align="right"| 903,376 ||align="right"| 38.0 || [[Ambovombe-Androy]] || [[Toliara Province|Toliara]]
|-
|align="right"|22 || [[Anosy Region|Anosy]] ||align="right"| 25,731 ||align="right"| 809,313 ||align="right"| 26.1 || [[Tôlanaro]] || [[Toliara Province|Toliara]]
|-
|align="right"|23 || [[Fitovinany]] ||align="right"| 19,605 ||align="right"| 1,435,882 ||align="right"| 72.2 || [[Manakara]] || [[Fianarantsoa Province|Fianarantsoa]]
|}

=== United Nations involvement ===
Madagascar became a member state of the United Nations on 20 September 1960, shortly after gaining its independence on 26 June 1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2006/org1469.doc.htm|title=United Nations Member States {{!}} Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|website=www.un.org|language=en|access-date=2 February 2017|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305033119/http://www.un.org/press/en/2006/org1469.doc.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> As of January 2017, 34 police officers from Madagascar are deployed in Haiti as part of the [[United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/contributors/2017/jan17_5.pdf|title=UN Mission's Contributions by Country|last=United Nations|date=31 January 2017|website=www.un.org|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223133954/http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/contributors/2017/jan17_5.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Starting in 2015, under the direction of and with assistance from the UN, the World Food Programme started the Madagascar Country Programme with the two main goals of long-term development and reconstruction efforts, and addressing the food insecurity issues in the southern regions of Madagascar.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www1.wfp.org/operations/200733-madagascar-country-programme-2015-2019|title=Madagascar Country Programme (2015–2019) {{!}} World Food Programme |website=www1.wfp.org|language=en|access-date=22 February 2017|archive-date=22 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222195051/http://www1.wfp.org/operations/200733-madagascar-country-programme-2015-2019|url-status=live}}</ref> These goals plan to be accomplished by providing meals for specific schools in rural and urban priority areas and by developing national school feeding policies to increase consistency of nourishment throughout the country. Small and local farmers have also been assisted in increasing both the quantity and quality of their production, as well as improving their crop yield in unfavorable weather conditions.<ref name=":0" /> In 2017, Madagascar signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref>