Madagascar

Republic of Madagascar

This country is currently the Republic of Madagascar, although in former times it was known as the Malagasy Republic. It is believed the island was first inhabited by Bantu-speaking settlers crossing from present day Mozambique, although there is some evidence to suggest previous inhabitants. Arabs and other East Africans first made contact with the native tribes during the 7th century, when trading posts were first established along the island's coasts. Several chiefdoms were established during the Middle Ages, each laying claims to control over large areas of the island, and growing in wealth and power proportionate to the amount of trade they were able to engage in. These powerful regional monarchs became known as the Maroserana. Portuguese explorers first made contact with the island in 1500, but they were never successful in establishing a trading colony. From around 1774 to 1824, however, Madagascar was a favorite haunt for pirates, who raided along the entire African east coast.

King Radama I, son of the Merina King Andrianampoinimerina, is credited with expanding his rule over neighboring principalities and bringing the entire nation under one monarch. Radama radified a treaty with the British governor of Mauritius to abolish slavery, and throughout the 19th century an influx of European artisans and educators helped modernize the nation and institute literacy classes for some of the population. His successor, Queen Ranavalona I, however, issued a royal edict prohibiting the practice of Christianity and expelling all foreigners from the island, leaving the island open to harsh criticism and colonialism in the years to come.

France invaded the island in 1883 in what became known as the Franco-Hova War, by the end of which French forces overthrew the ruling monarchy and established the nation as a French protectorate in 1896. The French continued modernization by establishing plantations for various export crops, and constructing schools, railways, roads and other modern conveniences. Between 1947 and 1948, however, a wave of nationalism spread over the population and the French response to the Malagasy Uprising caused tens of thousands of deaths. By 1956, however, France was open to a peaceful movement towards independence; a Malagasy Republic was officially declared in October 1958, with full independence granted on June 26, 1960.

Following the overturn of president Philibert Tsiranana's administration in 1972, a series of military leaders assumed control of the country. Major General Gabriel Ramanantsoa was succeeded in 1975 by Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava, who was assassinated only six days after taking office. His successor, General Gilles Andriamahazo was in office for only four months before being replaced by Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka. Under Ratsiraka, the traditional political and economic ties with France were severed in favor of a Marxist-Leninist style government. This Second Republic lasted until 1993, and saw a complete collapse of the country's economy, a sharp decline in standards of living, and increasing opposition from the common people. In 1991, Presidential Guards fired upon unarmed protesters at a rally, and within two months new leadership was called for.

In September and October 2025, a series of protests over lack of water and power resulted in the death of 22 people, not all of whom were killed by security forces. On 11 October members of the Army Corps of Personnel and Administrative and Technical Services (CAPSAT) launched a coup d'etat in support of the protestors, and two days later announced it had siezed control of the entire armed forces, forcing president Andry Rajoelina to flee the country. Colonel Michael Randrianirina was appointed interim president on the 17th of October and is now the 9th president of Madagascar.

The Madagascar People's Armed Forces (Tafika Malagasy) consist of the Malagasy Army, and a small Navy and Air Force known as the Aeronaval Force. The National Gendarmerie (Zandarimariam-pirenena) is responsible for rural law enforcement, facilities protection, and maritime policing. The Gendarmerie consists of about 8,000 personnel, plus the Presidential Security Regiment. The Malagasy National Police (MNP) falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security, and is primarily responsible for urban law enforcement. The MNP has special two special intervention units, an anti-gang unit, border security unit, and an emergency response force, in addition to more conventional law enforcement elements.

Camouflage Patterns of Madagascar

• The oldest known camouflage patterns worn by the Tafika Malagasy (Malagasy Defence Force) are variations of the French tenue de leópard or lizard pattern, which has been in use at least since the 1980s, if not earlier. Several variations have been documented, earlier versions with a more greenish tint. The lizard camouflage has in large part been phased out by more contemporary designs within the Armed Forces, the exception being with the Airborne Battalion and with units of the Gendarmerie Nationale.

• This variation of the lizard camouflage design appears to be locally-made, and has a slightly altered color palette than the traditional, French-influenced designs. Printed on lighter-weight fabrics, the "indigenous lizard" pattern is a three-color design featuring brown stripes overprinted on the dark green, producing a fourth, olive color where the two printed colors intersect.

• Malagasy troops have also been documented wearing the Asian-made copy of "lizard" camouflage, commonly encountered today throughout many parts of Africa. This design does not seem to have seen widespread distribution in the armed forces, and may only have been issued for a couple of years, circa 2009.

• For a brief period of time, right around the 2009, some members of the Armed Forces began to appear wearing woodland variant pattern based on the Chinese PLA Type 87 camouflage. The version noted has a pale green background color, with bright green, brown, and black shapes.

• Within the modern era, the most commonly encountered camouflage design of the Tafika Malagasy is a copy of the French CE woodland design, produced in Asia. Although there is no rigid colorway, with slight variations documented from different contracts or years of production, the uniform style models both the French F1 and F2 designs, with additional variations having metal snaps or double sets of plastic buttons on the pockets. Some recent versions have an almost purple coloration to the traditional black elements.

• Use of traditional lizard camouflage designs has largely been curtailed in favor of CE woodland and other patterns, but one design has continued to see service in Madagascar, particularly within the Gendarmerie Nationale and also within the Bataillon Parachutiste of the regular armed forces. This design has a distinctive yellow tinge to the base color, with reddish-brown and very dark green stripes. It is still being worn in 2025.

• A very unusual camouflage design is seen here is worn by the Force d'Intervention de la Police (Intervention Force), as well as the Unité spéciale d'intervention (USI) of the National Police. The background color is a dark olive green, printed over with russet brown and khaki or tan elements, which appear to be stylized designs of undetermined origins.

• First observed in mid-2025, elements of the Navy now wear a unique camouflage design with a blue colorway, incorporating horizontally-aligned irregular shapes in black and grey on a dark blue background.