Didier Ratsiraka President of Madagascar 1976-1993 and 1997-2002 Date of Birth: 04.11.1936 Country: Madagascar

Biography of Didier Ratsiraka

Didier Ratsiraka, the former President of Madagascar from 1976-1993 and 1997-2002, was born on November 4, 1936 in the city of Vatomandry, in the family of a governor of the Tamatave province in Madagascar. He received a higher naval education and studied in France from 1960 to 1969. He graduated from the Institute of Telecommunications Engineers and the Higher Naval School in Toulon. At the same time, he served in the Madagascar Navy, and after completing his studies, he became a Captain of the 3rd rank and a military attaché at the Embassy of Madagascar in France.

In the government of Ramanantsoa in 1972, Ratsiraka held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and advocated for the independence of Madagascar. In early 1975, Ratsiraka joined the military directorate and led the Malagasy socialist revolution. In December of the same year, Didier Ratsiraka was unanimously elected as the President of the new republic. During Ratsiraka's rule, a one-party regime was established, and friendly relations with the Soviet Union were established. He was subsequently re-elected to this position three more times in 1982, 1989, and 1997.

In the presidential elections of 1993, Ratsiraka withdrew from the race in the second round, conceding the presidency to opposition candidate Albert Zafy. However, he made a comeback in the next elections, but was unable to hold onto the presidency and failed to garner the necessary number of votes in 2001. In 2002, a serious dispute erupted over the presidency of Madagascar, and the country stood on the brink of civil war, which was only avoided thanks to the intervention of the Organization of African Unity.

As a result, the Supreme Court of the country declared Marc Ravalomanana the winner of the elections, and Didier and his family were forced to leave Madagascar and emigrate to France. An investigation conducted at that time revealed misappropriation of approximately 8 million dollars of state funds. As a result, Ratsiraka was sentenced in absentia to 10 years of correctional labor in 2003.