The culture of the Indian Ocean islands reflects the ethnic diversity, history, politics, music & dance, food & drink, arts, sports and international influences in that region. The area includes Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Comoros, Réunion, Mayotte, Rodrigues, Agalega, Cargados Carajos and, historically, Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia. Rodrigues is a common surname in the Portuguese language, namely in Portuguese speaking world, as well as other places. ... Agalega are two islands in the indian ocean belonging to Mauritius This article is a stub. ... Map of the Cargados Carajos Islands Cargados Carajos Shoals (also known as the Saint Brandon Rocks) are a group of about 16 small islands and islets on an extended reef in the Indian Ocean northeast of Mauritius. ... Map of the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory) The Chagos Archipelago is a group of six atolls with more than 600 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, that lies about 500 km (300 miles) due south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, and 1600 km (1000 miles... Diego Garcia () is an atoll located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, some 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) south of Indias southern coast. ...

Early history

Perhaps the earliest explorers of the region were Arab. Indeed, Arabs knew of the Mascarenes, naming Mauritius Dina Harobi (Abandoned Isle) and Réunion Dina Moghraib (Western Isle). They knew of Comoros or Madagascar also. For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ...

Madagascar

Archeologists place the first arrival of humans on the island to the years between 200 and 500 AD, when seafarers from Sulawesi, arrived in their outrigger canoes. The feat represented the western-most branch of the great Austronesian expansion. Medieval Arab navigators and geographers may have known about Madagascar. Various names labelled the island off the southern coast of Ophir (Africa): Phebol, Cernea, Menuthias, Medruthis, Sherbezat, Camarcada, and the Island of the Moon. Archaeology or sometimes in American English archeology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains, including architecture, artefacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... Location of Sulawesi Island (light green) among the various islands of Indonesia. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Ophir (Hebrew אוֹפִיר, Standard Hebrew Ofir, Tiberian Hebrew ʾÔp̄îr) is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. ...

Madagascar gets its current name from Marco Polo, the fourteenth-century Italian explorer, who described an African island of untold wealth called 'Madeigascar' in his memoirs. Polo heard about the island second-hand during his travels in Asia. Most scholars believe that he was writing about Mogadishu, the port located in present-day Somalia. Nevertheless, the name Madagascar was attached to the island by Italian cartographers during the Renaissance. Marco Polo (September 15, 1254 – January 8, 1324) was a Venetian trader and explorer who, together with his father Niccolò and his uncle Maffeo, was one of the first Westerners to travel the Silk Road to China (which was then called Cathay) and visited the Great Khan of the Mongol... Mogadishus location in Somalia Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ‎ ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its nominal capital. ...

Bantu settlers probably crossed the Mozambique Channel to Madagascar at the same time as or shortly after the Indonesians arrived. Although the majority of words in the Malagasy language have Malayan-Polynesian affinities, a smattering of Bantu words -- omby (ox), ondry (sheep), and others -- appears as well. From this evidence, some anthropologists believe that Indonesian and Bantu settlers intermixed early in the island’s history. Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (dull yellow) vs. ... The Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean between the island of Madagascar and southeast Africa, namely Mozambique. ... Malagasy redirects here. ... Three-quarter scale bronze sculptures 19th C. Malay people, Indonesia, Borneo. ... Polynesian is an adjectival form which refers variously to: Polynesian pie Polynesian sauce, a food condiment available at Chick-fil-A the aboriginal inhabitants of Polynesia, and their: Polynesian culture Polynesian mythology Polynesian languages Category: ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (dull yellow) vs. ...

The Bantus brought with them the gourd-like jejolava and the multi-stringed valiha, the instruments of Malagasy music. The Bantus also brought a cultural trait that is peculiar to East Africa -- an obsession with cattle. Especially on the southern savannahs of Madagascar where African influences are strongest, wealth and social status are measured in cattle, and the zebu outnumber the inhabitants by two or three to one. Madagascar is an island off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... Savannah may refer to: Four cities in the United States: Savannah, Georgia, the city known for its historic district Savannah River, which flows past the Georgia city Savannah River Site, a nuclear facility near Augusta, Georgia, upriver from Savannah Savannah, Missouri Savannah, New York Savannah, Tennessee Other: An alternate spelling... Trinomial name Bos taurus indicus Linnaeus, 1758 Zebus (Bos taurus indicus), sometimes known as nothing cattle, are better-adapted to tropical environments than other domestic cattle. ...

According to the traditions of some Malagasy peoples, the first Arabs to settle Madagascar came as refugees from the civil wars that followed the death of Mohammed in 632. Beginning in the tenth or eleventh century, Arabic and Zanzibari slave traders working their way down the east coast of Africa in their dhows and established settlements on the west coast of Madagascar. The most noteworthy of these were the Zafiraminia, traditional ancestors of the Antemoro, Antanosy and other east coast ethnicities. The last wave of Arab immigrants would be the Antalaotra who immigrated from eastern African colonies. They settled the north-west of the island (Majunga area) and were the first to actually bring Islam to the island. Arab immigrants were few in number compared to the Indonesians and Bantus, but they left a lasting impression. The Malagasy names for seasons, months, days, and coins are Arabic in origin, as is the practice of circumcision, the communal grain pool, and different forms of salutation. The Arab magicians, known as the ombiasy, established themselves in the courts of many Malagasy tribal kingdoms. Arab immigrants imposed the patriarchal system of family and clan rule on Madagascar. Previous to the Arabs, the Malagasies practiced the Polynesian matriarchal system whereby rights of privilege and property are conferred equally on men and women. The Malagasy (in French also les Malgaches) ethnic group forms the vast majority of the population of Madagascar. ... The Arabs (Arabic: عرب ) are an ethnic group found throughout the Middle East and North Africa. ... Muhammad (Arabic محمد, also transliterated Mohammad, Mohammed, and formerly Mahomet, following the Latin) is revered by Muslims as the final prophet of God. ... Centuries: 8th century BC - 7th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 680s BC 670s BC 660s BC 650s BC 640s BC - 630s BC - 620s BC 610s BC 600s BC 590s BC 580s BC Events and Trends 637 BC - Josiah becomes king of Judah. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Map of Zanzibars main island Zanzibar, Tanzania, comprises a pair of islands off the east coast of Africa called Zanzibar (Unguja) (1994 est. ... The slave trade is almost as old as civilisation itself. ... Mahajanga or Majunga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... It has been suggested that mage: be merged into this article or section. ... Polynesian is an adjectival form which refers variously to: Polynesian pie Polynesian sauce, a food condiment available at Chick-fil-A the aboriginal inhabitants of Polynesia, and their: Polynesian culture Polynesian mythology Polynesian languages Category: ...

The Merina kingdom In the central highlands of Madagascar, a state of rice farmers, had lived in relative isolation from the rest of Madagascar for several centuries, but by 1824 the Merina conquered nearly all of Madagascar thanks to the leadership of two shrewd kings, Andrianampoinimerina (circa 1745–1810) and his son Radama I (1792–1828). The Merina is the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. ... Andrianampoinimerina (d. ... Radama I the Great (c. ...

By marrying the princesses of different Merina clans and warring against the princes, Andrianampoinimerina united the Merina kingdom. He established Antananarivo as the capital of Madagascar and built the royal palace, or rova, on a hilltop overlooking the city. The king ambitiously proclaimed: Ny ranomasina no valapariako (“the sea is the boundary of my rice field”). But what distinguished Andrianampoinimerina from other ambitious kings and tribal chiefs was his ability to administer. The king codified the laws. He supervised the building of dykes and trenches to increase the amount of arable land around Antananarivo. He introduced the metal spade and compelled rice farmers to use it. King was an exemplary military commander. By the time of his death in 1810, he had conquered the Bara and Betsileo highland tribes and was preparing to push the boundaries of his kingdom to the shores of the island. Andrianampoinimerina (d. ... Antananarivo, Madagascar Antananarivo, Madagascar Antanànarìvo (pronounced IPA [æntəˌnænəˈɹiːvoÊŠ] or [ɑːntəˌnɑːnəˈɹiːvoÊŠ]), population 1,403,449 (2001 census), is the capital of Madagascar, in Antananarivo province. ... Andrianampoinimerina (d. ... Dyke (normal International spelling) or Dike (normal American spelling) can mean several things: A dyke / dike is a long wall built to keep out the sea or enclose land. ... A trench is a long narrow ditch. ... Antananarivo, Madagascar Antananarivo, Madagascar Antanànarìvo (pronounced IPA [æntəˌnænəˈɹiːvoÊŠ] or [ɑːntəˌnɑːnəˈɹiːvoÊŠ]), population 1,403,449 (2001 census), is the capital of Madagascar, in Antananarivo province. ... Insignia of a United States Navy Commander Commander is a military rank used in many navies but not generally in armies or air forces. ... Bara Hundred, or Bara härad, was a hundred of Scania in Sweden. ... The Betsileo are a highland tribe in Madagascar, the third largest in terms of population, numbering around one million. ...

Comoros

The Comoros are thought to have been first settled by the same (proto-Islamic) Malayo-Polynesians as Madagascar. Indeed, Malays have long since influenced the Comorian Culture. The next evidense of settlement here are successions of African/Malagasy tribal groups who, escaping persecution, fled to these islands. Next came Arab traders from the Persian Gulf and also a minority known as Shirazis (Persians). They converted many of the local tribes to Islam in the 15th century. The Comoros beccame an Arab-dominant Sultanate. Look up Malay in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Persian Gulf States be merged into this article or section. ... The Shirazi are Persians from Iran. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic monarch ruling under the terms of shariah. ...

Unlike sultans in many other Arab nations, these sultans had little real power. At one time alone on the island of Ndzuwani or Nzwani, 40 fanis and other chiefs shared power of the island; Ngazidja was at many times divided into 11 sultanates. Sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic title, with several historical meanings. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani) is an island in the Comoros. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani) is an island in the Comoros. ...

In 1505 Portuguese explored the Comoros, and due to their strategic position, various European powers fought over them until they were eventually won by France.

On 25 March 1841, France annexed the Mawuti=Maore sultanate (the name of the island was corrupted in French to "Mayotte") as Mayotte protectorate (ratified 13 June 1843). In 1852, Andruna is added to Mayotte protectorate and, in 1866, the large sultanate Ndzuwani (on Anjouan island) as well. It was the French who developed the Comoros and Mayotte. March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Motto: Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital Mamoudzou Largest city Mamoudzou Official language(s) French Government overseas collectivity of France  - President Jacques Chirac Independence overseas collectivity of France   - Voted to remain a territory of France 1974  Area    - Total 374 km² (~185th)   144 sq mi   - Water (%) 0. ... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic monarch ruling under the terms of shariah. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani) is an island in the Comoros. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. ...

On 24 June 1886, the islands of Ngazidja (Grande Comore in French) comprised eleven sultanates, but, in 1886, the Sultan tibe (paramount ruler and Sultan) of Bambao unified them, Ndzuwani (Anjouan), and Mwali sultanate (Mohéli island in French) become French protectorates, French résidents are posted on the three islands; on 5 September 1887 they were collectively renamed the Protectorate of the Comoros. June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... Map of Grand Comore Grand Comore (off-white) in relation to Comoros (light brown) Grande Comore (also known as Ngazidja and Ngasidja, and erroneously as Njazidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. ... Location of Bambao on the island of Anjouan Bambao is a town located on the island of Anjouan in the Comoros. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. ... Map of Moheli Moheli, also known as Mohéli or Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. ... Map of Mohéli Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ...

On 9 April 1908, France declared the Comoros a dependent territory of its Madagascar colony. On 25 July 1912, it was annexed by France and joined with Mayotte as Mayotte and dependencies, after the ratification on 23 February 1914 subordinated to the governor general of Madagascar (Comoros dependent colony). April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Mayotte

Mayotte has a very similar history as the Comoros, and were settled by the same groups of people. Mahorais, however, began to drift away from ethnic Comorians since Merina people invaded the island from Madagascar and began mixing with local tribes. When the Merina tribe of the Madagascar Highlands conquered the Sakalava kingdoms, some members of this tribe fled to Mayotte where they intermarried with the remaining original Mahorais as well as visiting Swahili and Arab traders, thus forming the Mahorais people of today. The Mahorai language bears a large similarity to the Comorian language spoken in Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli. An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. ... The Merina is the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. ... Swahili (also called Kiswahili; see Kiswahili for a discussion of the nomenclature) is an agglutinative Bantu language widely spoken in East Africa. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... Comorian (Shikomor) is the most widely used language on the Comoros (independent islands in the Indian Ocean, off Mozambique and Madagascar). ... Map of Grand Comore Grand Comore (off-white) in relation to Comoros (light brown) Grande Comore (also known as Ngazidja and Ngasidja, and erroneously as Njazidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. ... Map of Moheli Moheli, also known as Mohéli or Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. ...

Circa 1500 the Maore or Mawuti (corrupted to Mayotte in French) sultanate was established on the island. Motto: Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital Mamoudzou Largest city Mamoudzou Official language(s) French Government overseas collectivity of France  - President Jacques Chirac Independence overseas collectivity of France   - Voted to remain a territory of France 1974  Area    - Total 374 km² (~185th)   144 sq mi   - Water (%) 0. ... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic monarch ruling under the terms of shariah. ...

In 1503 it was noted by Portuguese explorers, but not colonized.

In 1832 it was conquered by Andriantsoly, former king of Iboina in Madagascar; in 1833 conquered by the neighbouring sultanate of Mwali (Mohéli island in French); on 19 November 1835 again conquered by Ndzuwani sultanate (Anjouan sultanate in French; a governor was installed with the unusual islamic style of Qadi, sort of a 'Resident Magistrate' in British terms), but in 1836 regained its independence under a last local Sultan. Map of Moheli Moheli, also known as Mohéli or Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. ... Map of Mohéli Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. ... November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani) is an island in the Comoros. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. ...

Mauritius

Mauritius, though known by Arabs (naming it Dina Harobi), Malays and Portuguese (naming it Ilha Do Cirnos) explorers, remained uninhabited until the Dutch arrived. They named the island Maurice, after Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. The Arabs (Arabic: عرب ) are an ethnic group found throughout the Middle East and North Africa. ... Look up Malay in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange - portrait by Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt Maurice of Nassau (in Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567 – 23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ...

It first appeared on maps with sister islands of Réunion and Rodrigues, the other two islands in the region known as the Mascarenes, after Don Pero Mascarenhas. Map of Rodrigues Rodrigues (or, incorrectly, Rodriguez) is one of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius. ... The Mascarene Islands (or Mascarenhas Archipelago) is the collective title of a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, which include Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues and Cargados Carajos. ...

In 1638 Cornelius Gooyer established the first permanent Dutch settlement in Mauritius with a garrison consisting of 25 persons. He thus became the first governor of the island. In 1639, 30 more men came to reinforce the Dutch colony. Gooyer was instructed to develop the commercial potential of the island, but he did nothing of the sort, so he was recalled. His successor was Adriann Van der Stel who began the development in earnest, developing the export of ebony bark. For the purpose, Van der Stel bought 105 Malagasy slaves to the island. Within the first week, about 60 slaves were able to run away into the forests and about only 20 of them were eventually recaptured. Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues were then introduced to the slave trade. In 1644, the islanders were faced with many months of hardships, due to delayed shipment of supplies, bad harvests and cyclones. During those months, the colonists could only rely on themselves by fishing and hunting. Nonetheless, Van der Stel secured the shipment of 95 more slaves from Madagascar, before being transferred to Ceylon. His replacement was Jacob Van der Meersh. In 1645, the latter brought in 108 more Malagasy slaves. Van der Meersh left Mauritius in September 1648 and was replaced by Reinier Por. Cornelius Gooyer was a Dutchman who established a settlement in what is now Mauritius. ... For people named Garrison, see Garrison (disambiguation) Garrison House, built by William Damm in 1675 at Dover, New Hampshire Garrison (from the French garnison, itself from the verb garnir, to equip) is the collective term for the body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but... A governor or governour (archaic) is a governing official, usually the executive (at least nominally, to different degrees also politically and administratively) of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the Head of state; furthermore the title applies to officials with a similar mandate as representatives of a chartered... A map showing the territory that the Netherlands held at various points in history. ... A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Radar image of a tropical cyclone in the northern hemisphere. ... Jacob Van der Meersh was governor of Mauritius from 1644 to 1648. ... Renier Por was governor of Mauritius from 1648 to 1658. ...

In 1652, more hardships befell on the colonists, masters and slaves alike. The population was then of about 100 people. The continuing hardships affected the commercial potential island and a pullout was ordered in 1657. On 16 July 1658, almost all the inhabitants left the island, except for a ship’s boy and 2 slaves who had taken shelter in the forests. Thus the first attempt at colonization by the Dutch ended badly. July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... Events January 13 - Edward Sexby, who had plotted against Oliver Cromwell, dies in Tower of London February 6 - Swedish troops of Charles X Gustav of Sweden cross The Great Belt (Storebælt) in Denmark over frozen sea May 1 - Publication of Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial and The Garden of Cyrus by... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ...

In 1664, a second attempt was made, but this one also ended badly as the men chosen for the job abandoned their sick commander, Van Niewland, without proper treatment and the latter eventually died. Insignia of a United States Navy Commander Commander is a military rank used in many navies but not generally in armies or air forces. ...

From 1666 to 1669, Dirk Jansz Smient administered the new colony at Grand Port, with the cutting down and export of ebony trees as the main activity. When Smient left, he was replaced by George Frederik Wreeden. The latter died in 1672, drowned with 5 other colonists during a reconnaissance expedition. His replacement would be Hubert Hugo. The later was a man of vision and wanted to make the island into an agricultural colony. His vision was not shared by his superiors and eventually could not fully develop his vision. Renier Por was governor of Mauritius in the new settlement at Grand Port from 1666 to 1669. ... Grand Port is a district encompassing much of south-eastern part of the island of Mauritius. ... George Frederik Wreeden was governor of Mauritius from 1669 to 1672. ... This article refers to a colony in politics and history. ... Huburt Hugo was governor of Mauritius from 1672 to 1677. ...

Issac Johannes Lamotius became the new governor when Hugo left in 1677. Lamotius governed until 1692, when he was deported to Batavia for judgment for persecuting a colonist whose wife had refused his courtship. Thus in 1692 a new governor, Roelof Deodati, was appointed. Even if he tried to develop the island, Deodati faced many problems, like cyclones, pest infestations, cattle illnesses and droughts. Discouraged, Deodati eventually gave up and his replacement would be Abraham Momber Van de Velde. The latter fared no better and eventually became the last Dutch governor of the island for that period. Thus the Dutch abandoned the island definitely in 1710. Slaves were not particularly well treated by the colonists and revolts or the act of organizing one was severely repressed and punished. Some punishments consisted of amputation of various parts of the body and exposure in the open air for a day as example to others, eventually culminating in condemned slaves’ execution at sunset. Issac Johannes Lamotius was governor of Mauritius from 1677 to 1692. ... Look up Batavia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Roelof Deodati was governor of Mauritius in the late 17th Century and was replaced by Abraham Momber Van de Velde. ... Radar image of a tropical cyclone in the northern hemisphere. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... A drought is a period of time when there is not enough water to support agricultural, urban or environmental water needs. ... Abraham Momber Van de Velde was the last Dutch governor of Mauritius and served until 1710. ...

Legacy of the Dutch

• Providing the name for the country and for many regions over the whole island. Some examples include the ‘Pieter Both’ mountain, the ‘Vandermeersh’ region near Rose-Hill as well as many other names.
• Introduction of sugar cane plants from Java
• Decimating the local dodo and giant tortoise population for food and by introducing competing species and pests, sometimes involuntarily.
• Clearing of large swaths of forests for ebony bark exploitation

French rule (1715-1810) Abandoned by the Dutch, the island became a French colony when, in September 1715, Guillaume Dufresne D'Arsel landed and took possession of this port of call on the route to India. He named the island "Isle de France", but it was only in 1721 that the French started their occupation. However, it was only as from 1735, with the arrival of the most illustrious of French governor, Mahé de La Bourdonnais, that the "Isle de France" started developing effectively. Pieter Both (??, Amersfoort - 1615, Mauritius) was the first Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. ... Rose Hill may refer to: Rose Hill, North Carolina Rose Hill, Kansas Rose Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia Rose Hill, Iowa Rose Hill, Illinois Rose Hill, Lee County, Virginia Rose Hill, Mauritius British actress Rose Hill Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, California This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages... Java (Indonesian, Javanese, and Sundanese: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia and the site of its capital city, Jakarta. ... The term exploitation may carry two distinct meanings: The act of utilizing something for any purpose. ... In various forms, France had colonial possessions since the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. ... See Ile de France for some other meanings that may have been confused with Île-de-France (note the circumflex accent). ... Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais (comte de La Bourdonnais) (Saint-Malo, 11 February 1699 – Paris, 10 November 1753) was a French naval officer and administrator, in the service of the French East India Company. ...

Mahé de La Bourdonnais established Port Louis as a naval base and a ship-building centre. Under his governorship, numerous buildings were built, a number of which are still standing today - part of Government House, the Chateau de Mon Plaisir at Pamplemousses and the Line Barracks. The island was under the administration of the French East India Company which maintained its presence until 1767. Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais (comte de La Bourdonnais) (Saint-Malo, 11 February 1699 – Paris, 10 November 1753) was a French naval officer and administrator, in the service of the French East India Company. ... The arms of Port Louis Port Louis banking district, and the main avenue leading to the Government House (seen in the background) Port Louis (pronounced locally as paw-louee) is the capital of Mauritius. ... Pamplemousses is a district of Mauritius in the north of the island, and is one of the most densely populated parts of the island. ... A barracks housing conscripts of Norrbottens regemente in Boden, Sweden. ... French and other European settlements in India. ...

From that year until 1810, the island was in charge of officials appointed by the French Government, except for a brief period during the French Revolution, when the inhabitants set up a government virtually independent of France. This article is about the political and administrative structures of the French government. ... The French Revolution was a period of major political and social change in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based around Enlightenment...

During the Napoleonic wars, the "Isle de France" had become a base from which French corsairs organised successful raids on British commercial ships. The raids continued until 1810 when a strong British expedition was sent to capture the island. A preliminary attack was foiled at Grand Port in August 1810, but the main attack launched in December of the same year from Rodrigues, which had been captured a year earlier, was successful. The British landed in large numbers in the north of the island and rapidly overpowered the French, who capitulated. By the Treaty of Paris in 1814, the "Isle de France" which was renamed 'Mauritius' was ceded to Great Britain, together with Rodrigues and the Seychelles. In the act of capitulation, the British guaranteed that they would respect the language, the customs, the laws and the traditions of the inhabitants. Combatants Allies: Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince... Look up corsair in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Grand Port is a district encompassing much of south-eastern part of the island of Mauritius. ... Many treaties have been negotiated and signed in Paris, including: Treaty of Paris (1229) - ended the Albigensian Crusade Treaty of Paris (1259) - between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France Treaty of Paris (1763) - ended the Seven Years War Treaty of Paris (1783) - ended the American Revolutionary War...

British rule (1810-1968) Despite the only French naval victory of Battle of the Grand Port on 19 August and 20 August 1810 by the fleet commanded by Pierre Bouvet, Mauritius was captured 3 December 1810 by the British under Commodore Josias Rowley. Their possession of the island was confirmed 4 years later by the Treaty of Paris (1814). French institutions, including the Napoleonic code of law, were maintained. The French language was at that moment still used more widely than English. August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Many treaties have been negotiated and signed in Paris, including: Treaty of Paris (1229) - ended the Albigensian Crusade Treaty of Paris (1259) - between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France Treaty of Paris (1763) - ended the Seven Years War Treaty of Paris (1783) - ended the American Revolutionary War... First page of the 1804 original edition The Napoleonic Code, or Code Napoléon (originally called the Code civil des Français, or civil code of the French), was the French civil code, established at the behest of Napoléon I. It entered into force on March 21, 1804. ...

The British administration, which began with Robert Farquhar as governor, was followed by rapid social and economic changes. One of the most important events was the abolition of slavery in 1835. The planters received a compensation of two million pounds sterling for the loss of their slaves which had been imported from Africa and Madagascar during the French occupation. A governor or governour (archaic) is a governing official, usually the executive (at least nominally, to different degrees also politically and administratively) of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the Head of state; furthermore the title applies to officials with a similar mandate as representatives of a chartered... This article is about the abolition of slavery. ...

Mauritian Creoles trace their origins to the plantation owners and slaves who were brought to work the sugar fields from Africa and Madagascar. Indo-Mauritians are descended from Indian immigrants who arrived in the 19th century to the Aapravasi Ghat in order to work as indentured laborers after slavery was abolished in 1833. Included in the Indo-Mauritian community are Muslims (about 17% of the population) from the Indian subcontinent. The Franco-Mauritian elite controls nearly all of the large sugar estates and is active in business and banking. As the Indian population became numerically dominant and the voting franchise was extended, political power shifted from the Franco-Mauritians and their Creole allies to the Indo-Mauritians. The term Creole and its relatives in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. ... Indo-Mauritians are people of Indian descent living on the island of Mauritius, where they represent a majority. ... The Immigration Depot in Mauritius (Hindi: Aapravasi Ghat) is a dilapidated complex of buildings in Port Louis, which contains scarce remains of the islands first facility to receive indentured labourers from India. ... The Buxton Memorial Fountain, celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, London. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... Franco-Mauritians are people of French origin who reside in Mauritius. ... Political power (imperium in Latin) is a type of power held by a person or group in a society. ...

Conflicts arose between the Indian community (mostly sugarcane labourers) and the Franco-Mauritians in the 1920s, leading to several deaths - mainly Indians. Following this the Mauritius Labour Party was founded in 1936 by Dr. Maurice Cure to safeguard the interest of the labourers. Dr. Cure was succeeded a year later by Emmanuel Anquetil who tried to gain the support of the port workers. After his death Guy Rozemond took over the leadership of the party. The Mauritian Labour Party (Parti Travailliste) is a political party in Mauritius. ... Second leader of the M.L.P. Famous unionist. ...

Réunion

Arab sailors used to call this island Dina Morgabin ("Western Island"). The Portuguese were the first Europeans to visit the island, finding it uninhabited in 1513, and naming it Santa Apollonia. For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... A sailor is a member of the crew of a ship or boat. ...

The island was then occupied by the French and administered from Port Louis, Mauritius. Although the French flag was hoisted by François Cauche in 1638, Santa Apollonia was officially claimed by Jacques Pronis of France in 1642, when he deported a dozen French mutineers to the island from Madagascar. The convicts were returned to France several years later, and in 1649, the King of France Louis XIII named the island Île Bourbon after his royal house. Port Louis District is a district of Mauritius. ... Five Americans was a 1960s band, most famous for the song Western Union. External link Five Americans at ClassicBands. ... Kings ruled in France from the Middle Ages to 1848. ... Louis XIII (September 27, 1601 - May 14, 1643), called the Just (French: le Juste), was King of France from 1610 to 1643. ...

"Réunion" was the name given to the island in 1793 by a decree of the Convention with the fall of the House of Bourbon in France, and the name commemorates the union of revolutionaries from Marseille with the National Guard in Paris, which took place on August 10, 1792. In 1801, the island was renamed "Île Bonaparte", after Napoleon Bonaparte. The island was taken by the British navy led by Commodore Josias Rowley in 1810, who used the old name of "Bourbon". When it was restored to France by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the island retained the name of "Bourbon" until 1848, when the fall of the restored Bourbons during the revolutions during that year meant that the island became "Réunion" once again. Also see:  Early Modern France The House of Bourbon is an important European royal house. ... City flag Coat of arms Motto: By her great deeds, Marseille shines in the world Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Region Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Department Bouches-du-Rhône (13) Subdivisions 16 arrondissements (in 8 secteurs) Intercommunality Urban Community of Marseille Provence... Founded in Paris after the fall of the Bastille in July 1789, the National Guard passed from the historical stage in the wake of the destruction of the Paris Commune in May 1871. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1792 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Congress of Vienna was a conference between ambassadors from the major powers in Europe that was chaired by the Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von Metternich and held on the way to Vienna, Austria, from September 1, 1814, to June 9, 1815. ...

From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration supplemented by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Indians gave the island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost the island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route. Look up Malay in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Réunion became an overseas département of France on March 19, 1946. The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

Between 15 March and 16 March 1952, Cilaos at the center of Réunion received 1,869.9 mm (73.6 in) of rainfall. This is the greatest 24-hour precipitation total ever recorded on Earth. March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in leap years). ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Cilaos is a town and commune of approximately 6000 residents, situated on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. ...

Seychelles

The Seychelles islands remained uninhabited for more than 150 years after they became known to Western explorers. The island appeared on Portuguese charts as early 1505, although Arabs may have visited them much earlier. In 1742, the French governor of Mauritius, Bertrand François Mahé de La Bourdonnais, sent an expedition to the islands. A second expedition in 1756 reasserted formal possession by France and gave the islands their present name in honour of the French finance minister under King Louis XV. The new French colony barely survived its first decade and did not begin to flourish until 1794, when Jean-Baptiste Quéau de Quincy became commandant. For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... Louis XV King of France and Navarre Louis XV (February 15, 1710 - May 10, 1774), called the Well-Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé), was king of France from 1715 to 1774. ... In various forms, France had colonial possessions since the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. ...

The Seychelles islands were captured and freed several times during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, then passed officially to the British under the Treaty of Paris (1814). From the date of its founding by the French until 1903, the Seychelles Colony was regarded as a dependency of Mauritius, which also passed from the French to British rule in 1814. The French Revolution was a period of major political and social change in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based around Enlightenment... Combatants Allies: Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince... Many treaties have been negotiated and signed in Paris, including: Treaty of Paris (1229) - ended the Albigensian Crusade Treaty of Paris (1259) - between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France Treaty of Paris (1763) - ended the Seven Years War Treaty of Paris (1783) - ended the American Revolutionary War...

In 1888, a separate administrator and executive and administrative councils were established for the Seychelles archipelago. Nine years later, the administrator acquired full powers of a British colonial governor, and on August 31, 1903, Seychelles became a separate British Crown Colony. The Mergui Archipelago An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ... 1903 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ...

In 1958, the French bought back the Glorioso islands from the Seychelles.

In March 1970, colonial and political representatives of Seychelles met in London for a constitutional convention, with the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP) of James Mancham advocating closer integration with the UK, and the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP) of France-Albert René advocating independence. Elections in November 1970 brought a new constitution into effect, with Mancham as Chief Minister. Further elections were held in April 1974, in which both major political parties campaigned for independence. Following this election, negotiations with the British resulted in an agreement under which the Seychelles became an independent republic within the Commonwealth on June 29, 1976. The newly knighted Sir James Mancham became the country's first President, with René as Prime Minister. These negotiations also restored the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches, which had been transferred from Seychelles in November 1965 to form part of the new British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) to Seychelles upon independence. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Seychelles Democratic Party is a political party in Seychelles. ... Sir James Richard Marie Mancham (born 1939) was the first President of Seychelles from 1976 to 1977. ... Seychelles Peoples Progressive Front (French: Front Progressiste du Peuple Seychellois) is a socialist political party in Seychelles. ... France-Albert René (born November 16, 1935) was the long-time socialist President of Seychelles from 1977 to 2004. ... A Chief Minister is the elected Head of Government of a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British overseas territory that has attained self-government. ... For other uses, see Republic (disambiguation). ... The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, the majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ... June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Map of Aldabra Atoll Aldabra and Assumption Island Aldabra Atoll Aldabra is a raised coral atoll in the Indian Ocean virtually untouched by humans, with distinctive island fauna, including the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. ... Farquhar is a group of islands in the Seychelles that are part of the Outer Islands District. ... Desroches is an island in the Seychelles, part of the Amirante Islands, Outer Island District. ...

Calls for independence

Madagascar

In 1947, with French prestige at low ebb, France suppressed the Madagascar revolt, a nationalist uprising, after one year of bitter fighting, in which as many as 80 000 Malagasy died. The French subsequently established reformed institutions in 1956 under the Loi Cadre (Overseas Reform Act), and Madagascar moved peacefully toward independence. The Malagasy Republic was proclaimed on October 14, 1958, as an autonomous state within the French Community. A period of provisional government ended with the adoption of a constitution in 1959 and full independence on June 26, 1960, with Philibert Tsiranana as President. October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ...

Tsiranana's rule represented continuation, with French settlers (or 'colons') still in positions of power. Unlike many of France's former colonies, the Malagasy Republic strongly resisted movements towards communism. In 1972 protests against these policies came to a head and Tsiranana was forced to step down. He handed power to General Gabriel Ramanantsoa of the army and his provisional government. This regime reversed previous policy in favour of closer ties with the Soviet Union. A family of Russian settlers in the Caucasus region, ca. ... This article is about the country; for the movie see Madagascar (movie) Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa. ...

In 1975 Lieutenant-Commander Didier Ratsiraka (who had previously served as foreign minister) came to power in a coup. Elected president for a seven-year term, Ratsiraka moved further towards socialism, nationalising much of the economy and cutting all ties with France. These policies hastened the decline in the Madagascan economy that had begun after independence as French immigrants left the country, leaving a shortage of skills and technology behind. Ratsiraka's seven year term was extended after his party (Avant-garde de la Révolution Malgache or AREMA) became the only legal party in the 1977 elections. In the 80s Madagascar moved back towards France, abandoning many of its communist-inspired policies in favour of a market economy, though Ratsiraka still kept hold of power. Eventually opposition both in Madagascar and internationally forced him to reconsider his position and in 1992 a new democratic constitution was approved. Didier Ratsiraka (born November 4, 1936) was the President of Madagascar from 1975 until 1993 and from 1997 until 2002. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a level of technological mastery sufficient to leave the surface of the planet for the first time and explore space. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

The first multi-party elections came in 1993, with Albert Zafy defeating Ratsiraka. Zafy failed to re-unite the country and was impeached in 1996. The ensuing elections saw a turnout of less than 50% and surprisingly ended in the re-election of Didier Ratsiraka. He moved further towards capitalism. The influence of the IMF and World Bank led to widespread privatisation. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that oversees the global financial system by observing exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering financial and technical assistance when requested. ... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means...

Opposition to Ratsiraka began to grow again. Opposition parties boycotted provincial elections in 2000, and the 2001 presidential election produced more controversy. The opposition candidate Marc Ravalomanana claimed victory after the first round (in December) but this position was refuted by the incumbent. In early 2002 supporters of the two sides took to the streets and there were violent clashes. Ravalomanana claimed that there had been fraud at the polls. After an April recount the High Constitutional Court declared Ravalomanana president. Ratsiraka continued to dispute the result but his opponent was internationally recognised and he was forced into exile in France, though forces loyal to him continued to be active in Madagascar.

Ravlomanana's I Love Madagascar party achieved overwhelming electoral success in December 2002 and he survived an attempted coup in January 2003. He used his mandate to work closely with the IMF and the World Bank to reform the economy, end corruption and realise the country's potential. Ratsiraka was tried in his absence for embezzlement (he was charged with taking $8m of public money with him into exile) and sentenced to ten years hard labour. 2003: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for January, 2003. ...

Comoros

Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. Probably many of these coups were orchestrated by France which still maintained substantial interests in the area (especially on Mayotte), although it is hard to find definite proof. Bob Denard overthrew the government four times. A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... Colonel Bob Denard, known in Arabic as Said Mustapha Mahdjoub (born April 7, 1929 in Bordeaux, France as Gilbert Bourgeaud) is perhaps the most famous and influential mercenary in the last fifty years. ...

The second time was in 1978, when president Ali Soilih, who had a firm anti-French attitude, was killed and Ahmed Abdallah came to power. Under the reign of Abdallah, Denard was commander of the Presidential Guard (PG) and de facto ruler of the country, trained, supported and funded by the white regimes in South Africa (SA) and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in return to the permission to set up a secret listening station on the islands. South-African agents had to keep an ear on the important ANC bases in Lusaka and Dar es Salaam and to watch the war in Mozambique, in which South Africa played an active role. The Comoros were also used for evading arms sanctions. Ali Soilih (January 7, 1937 - May 29, 1978) was a Comorian socialist revolutionary and political figure. ... The Belarusian Presidential Guard is a law-enforcement body that was designed to protect the President of Belarus and other high ranking officials. ... National motto: Sit Nomine Digna (Latin: May she be worthy of the name) Official language English Capital Salisbury Political system Parliamentary system Form of government Constitutional monarchy (until 1970) Republic (March 2, 1970) - Last President John Wrathall - Prime Minister Ian Smith Area  - Total  - % water 390 580 km² 1% Population  - 1978... Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. ... Dar es Salaam (دار السلام), formerly Mzizima, is the largest city (pop. ...

When in 1981 François Mitterrand was elected president Denard lost the support of the French intelligence service, but he managed to strengthen the link between South Africa and the Comoros. Besides the Guard, Denard established his own company SOGECOM, in both the security and building business. He seemed to be pretty rich. In period 1985-87 the relationship of the PG with the local Comorians became worse. (October 26, 1916 – January 8, 1996) was a French politician. ...

At the end of the 1980s the South Africans did not want to continue to support a mercenary regime and France also wanted to get rid of the mercenaries. Finally, also President Abdallah wanted the mercenaries to leave. Their response was a (third) coup and the death of President Abdallah in which Denard and his men were probably involved. The SA and the French government subsequentially forced Denard and his mercenaries to leave the islands in 1989. Said Mohamed Djohar became president. His time in office was turbulent, including an impeachment attempt in 1991 and a coup attempt in 1992.

On September 28, 1995 Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries took over the Comoros islands in a coup (named operation Kaskari by the mercanaries) against President Djohar. France immediately severely denounced the coup, and backed by the 1978 defense agreement with the Comoros, President Jacques Chirac ordered his special forces to retake the island. Bob Denard began to take measures to stop the coming invasion. A new presidential guard was created. Strong points armed with heavy machine guns were set up around the island, particularly around the islands two airports. September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Colonel Bob Denard, known in Arabic as Said Mustapha Mahdjoub (born April 7, 1929 in Bordeaux, France as Gilbert Bourgeaud) is perhaps the most famous and influential mercenary in the last fifty years. ... Jacques René Chirac (born November 29, 1932 in Paris) is a French politician and the current President of the French Republic. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ...

On October 3, 1995, 11 p.m., the French deployed 600 men against a force of 33 mercenaries and a 300 man dissident force. Denard however ordered his mercenaries not to fight. Within 7 hours the airports at Iconi and Hahaya and the French Embassy in Moroni are secured. By 3:00 p.m. the next day Bob Denard and his Mercenaries had surrendered. This operation, codename Azalée, was remarkable, because there were no casualties, and just in seven days, plans were drawn up and soldiers were deployed. Denard was taken to France and jailed. Prime minister Caambi El-Yachourtu became acting president until Djohar returned from exile in January 1996. In March 1996, following presidential elections, Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim, a member of the civilian government that Denard had tried to set up in October 1995, became president. October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim (1936 - 6 November 1998) was President of the Comoros from 25 March 1996 until his death on 6 November 1998. ...

In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli declared their independence from Comoros. A subsequent attempt by the government to reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and presently the African Union is brokering negotiations to effect a reconciliation. This process is largely complete, at least in theory. According to some sources, Mohéli did return to government control in 1998. In 1999, Anjouan started to fall apart internally, on August 1 of that year, the 80-year-old first president Foundi Abdallah Ibrahim resigned, and gave power to a national coordinator, Said Abeid. The government was overthrown in a coup by army and navy officers on August 9, 2001. Mohamed Bacar soon rose to leadership of the junta that took over and by the end of the month he was the leader of the country. Despite two coup attempts in the following three months, including one by Abeid, Charif's government stayed in power, and was apparently more willing to negotiate with Comoros. Presidential elections have been held on Comoros, and presidents have been chosen for all three islands as well, which are now in a confederation. Grand Comore had experienced troubles of its own in the late 1990s, as President Taki died on November 6, 1998. Colonel Azali Assoumani became president following a military coup in 1999. There have been several coup attempts since, but he is now in firm control of the country after winning a presidential election. Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. ... Map of Mohéli Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Current President of the Island of Anjouan, which is one of three island that make up the Union of Comoros. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

In May 2006, Ahmed Abdallah Sambi was elected from the island of Anjouan to be the president of the Union of Comoros. He is a well-respected Sunni cleric who studied in the Sudan, Iran and Saudi Arabia. He is respectfully called "Ayatollah" by his supporters but is considered a moderate Islamist. He has been quoted as stating that Comoros is not ready to become an Islamic state, nor shall the veil be forced upon any women in the Comoros. He is also a successful businessman and set to be the first president of the Comoros to ever peacefully gain power. Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi (born 5 June 1958 in Mutsamudu) is a Comorian Islamic leader and politician from the island of Anjouan. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. ...

Mauritius

Elections in 1947 for the newly created Legislative Assembly marked Mauritius' first steps toward self-rule. The Assembly was elected among adult knowing to write. It was won by the Labour Party Headed by Guy Rozemont. It is the first time the elite Franco was ousted out of power. An independence campaign gained momentum after 1961, when the British agreed to permit additional self-government and eventual independence. A coalition composed of the Mauritian Labour Party (MLP), the Muslim Committee of Action (CAM) of Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed, and the Independent Forward Bloc (IFB)--a traditionalist Hindu party--won a majority in the 1967 Legislative Assembly election, despite opposition from Franco-Mauritian ( and Creole supporters of Gaetan Duval's and Jules Keoing's Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD). The contest was interpreted locally as a referendum on independence. The election was won by a small margin. The constituency No. 15 was capital to the winning of the pro-independence coalition.The MLP led alliance was able to win this constituency only due to the support of the C.A.M. of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, MLP leader and chief minister in the colonial government, became the first prime minister after independence, on March 12, 1968. This event was preceded by a period of communal strife, brought under control with assistance from British troops. March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

From independence to 1994

The 1970s saw the emergence of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien/Parti Socialiste Mauricien (MMM/PSM) led by Paul Bérenger. The MMM was founded in 1970 and had three initial leaders, Paul Bérenger, Dev Virasawmy and Juneid Jeeroobarkhan. The MMM won its first election in a by election of constituency No.5 by electing Dev Virasawmy. Until 1982, Sir Seewoosagur was Prime Minister, his Labour Party in coalition with Duval's PMSD. In 1982, the coalition of Mouvement Militant Mauricien/Parti Socialiste Mauricien came to power in a landslide electoral victory, with Anerood Jugnauth as Prime Minister and Harish Boodhoo as the deputy Prime Minister. The coalition split in 1983, with Anerood Jugnauth forming the Mouvement Socialiste Mauricien (MSM), which became the governing party, with Jugnauth as Prime Minister. Sir Seewoosagur subsequently became Governor-General, although the MSM planned to make the country a republic within the Commonwealth, with him as President. An attempt to make the country a republic in 1990, with Bérenger as President failed, owing to political opposition.

Following Sir Seewoosagur's death, his son, Navin Ramgoolam succeeded him as leader of the MLP. However, the MLP and PMSD were defeated at the 1991 election, which saw Sir Anerood Jugnauth re-elected. On March 12, 1992 Mauritius finally became a republic within the Commonwealth, with Cassam Uteem as president. March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

1995 - present day

Navin Ramgoolam formed a coalition with the MMM at the parliamentary elections in 1995, leaving the MSM in opposition. At the next elections in 2001, Sir Anerood Jugnauth’s MSM, in coalition with Paul Bérenger’s MMM was returned to power, with Sir Anerood Jugnauth appointed as prime minister. He subsequently retired as Prime Minister after 3 years and assumed the office of President. For the remaining time of the elected government the Prime Minister’s post was filled by Paul Bérenger. At the 2005 general elections, the MLP led Alliance Sociale coalition won the elections and Navin Ramgoolam became Prime Minister. Sir Anerood Jugnauth remains at the presidency. Navinchandra Ramgoolam (नवीन चन्‍द्र रामगुलाम) (born July 13, 1947) is the current Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius. ...

Seychelles

need more info

Seychelles gained independence in 1976 from Britain, forming a republic. For other uses, see Republic (disambiguation). ...

Peoples

There is a distinct ethnic diversity within the region, each nation sharing many similar traditions as well as having their own unique traditions.

Malays

Malay peoples first settled in Madagascar. Today they form the largest Malagasy ethnic group. Merinas, with a population of 13 million, are descended from Malays who emigrated there in the common era. In the late 18th century Merina rulers began to assert political domination over much of the island. In 1895-96 the French abolished the Merina monarchy by force.

The Malays have had the largest influence in Madagascar, with Malay Misic, food and drink and language evoling into the main parts of Malagasy Culture.

Malays also settled in the Comoros. These malays differentiated greatly from Madagascar in the three independent islands, as Merinas invaded Maore and began intermarrying with other races. Motto: Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital Mamoudzou Largest city Mamoudzou Official language(s) French Government overseas collectivity of France  - President Jacques Chirac Independence overseas collectivity of France   - Voted to remain a territory of France 1974  Area    - Total 374 km² (~185th)   144 sq mi   - Water (%) 0. ...

Sakalava

The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. They occupy the Western edge of the island from Toliara in the south to Sambirano in the north. Sakalavaare are more of a diverse group of ethnicities that once comprised an ancient empire, than an ethnic group in their own right.

During the Middle Ages, when the chiefs of the different settlements on the island began to extend their power through trade with Madagascar's Indian Ocean neighbors, the Sakalava chiefdoms of the Menabe, centered in what is now the town of Morondava, were prinicipal among them. The influence of the Sakalava extended across what is now the provinces of Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toliara. But with the domination of the Indian Ocean by the British fleet and the end of the Arab slave trade, the Sakalava would lose their power to the emerging Merina threat.

According to local tradition, the founders of the Sakalava kingdom were Maroseraña (or Maroseranana, "those who owned many ports") princes, from the Fiherenana (now Toliara). They may also be descended from the Zafiraminia (sons of Ramini) clans from the southwestern part of the island, whom many consider to be White, possibly from Arab origin. They were first in contact with European slave-traders, from whom they obtained weapons, mostly in exchange for slaves; they quickly submitted the neighbouring princes, starting with the southern ones, in the Mahafaly area. The true founder of Sakalava dominance was Andriamisara; his son Andriandahifotsy ("the White Prince") then extended his authority northwards, past the Mangoky River. His two sons, Andriamanetiarivo and Andriamandisoarivo, extended gains further up to the Tsongay region (now Mahajanga). At about that time, the empire's unity starts to split, resulting in a southern kingdom (Menabe) and a northern kingdom (Boina). Further splits resulted, despite continued extension of the Boina princes' reach into the extreme north, in Antankarana country. Toliara (also known as Toliary and formerly Tuléar) is a town in Madagascar. ... Mangoky River Delta from space, November 1989 (NASA) The Mangoky River is 350 miles (564 kilometers) long and rises in the Central Highlands of Madagascar just east of the city of Fianarantsoa. ... Mahajanga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Boina can mean a number of things. ...

The historical formation process of the Sakalava kingdom explains the great diversity among its constituents, who continue to perpetuate distinctive regional customs, both culturally and linguistically. About the latter, the only real unifying factor of the different Sakalava dialects is their common membership to the western subgroup of Madagascar languages, which distinguishes them from central and East coast languages. Sakalava Girl The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. ...

The origin of the word Sakalava itself is still subject to controversy, as well as its actual meaning. The Merina oral histories mention several attacks by Sakalava raiders against their villages as early as the 17th century, and during the entire 18th century; although it is impossible to certify that these have a direct relationship with the coastal kingdom populations. It seems that in some cases including this one, the term was used generically to design all the nomadic peoples in the sparsely settled territories between the Merina country and the western coast of the island. Sakalava Girl The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. ... Sakalava Girl The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. ...

The Merina king RadamaI's wars with the western coast of the island would end in a fragile peace sealed through his marriage with the daughter of a king of Menabe. Though the Merina would never annex the two last Sakalava strongholds of Menabe and Boina (Majunga); the Sakalava would never again pose a threat to the central plateau until the French colonisation of the island in 1896. The Merina is the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. ... Boina can mean a number of things. ... Mahajanga or Majunga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Sakalava Girl The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. ...

Notably, Sakalavas also form a small minority group in the Comoros.

Africans & Malagasy (Creoles)

Creoles are descended from black slaves imported by European colonists from east Africa and Madagascar to work the plantations of sugarcane, tea, coffee and other agriculture. The first slaves arrived in the Mascarenes and the Seychelles. Smaller groups went to the Comoros & Mayotte. The term Creole and its relatives in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. ... The Mascarene Islands (or Mascarenhas Archipelago) is the collective title of a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, which include Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues and Cargados Carajos. ...

Today, Réunion and the Seychelles both have Creole majorities, followed by Mauritius with Creoles forming the second-largest ethnic group. Comoros and Mayotte also have smal numbers of Creoles. Madagascar has population of Creoles descended from Mauritians and Réunionnaise. Each island has their own distinct Creole language but with many similarities. The term Creole and its relatives in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. ... A creole language, or just creole, is a well-defined and stable language that originated from a non-trivial combination of two or more languages, typically with many distinctive features that are not inherited from either parent. ...

Indians

Indians first arrived in the western Indian Ocean as indentured labourers, Mauritius being the first country in the world to take up the system of Indian labour. Because the slave trade was abolished, Europeans needed new work force. Throughout its legacy, Mauritius had admitted 400,000 Indians, Reunion 165,900 and the Seychelles Rodrigues an unspecified number. There were also minority communities in Madagascar and the Comoros. In the Chagos Archipelago, the Indians formed the majority of the Ilois population. Rodrigues is a common surname in the Portuguese language, namely in Portuguese speaking world, as well as other places. ... Map of the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory) The Chagos Archipelago is a group of six atolls with more than 600 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, that lies about 500 km (300 miles) due south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, and 1600 km (1000 miles... Flag of the Ilois (Chagossian) people Ilois (also known as Chagossians) are a group of Creole-speaking people, mostly of Indian descent (along with populations from Madagascar, Mauritius, and Mozambique), who dwelled on the island of Diego Garcia and other parts of the Chagos Archipelago for a more than a...