The Madagascar revolt was an attempted revolution against the French by nationalists on the island of Madagascar between 1947 and 1948. The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa. ...
The Mouvement Democratique de la Renovation Malagache (MDRM), whose objective was independence for Madagascar, formed in 1946 in response to the island becoming a French overseas territory. On March 29, 1947, Malagasy nationalist tribesmen revolted in the eastern part of the island. One third of the island was seized before French soldiers stationed on the island received reinforcements from France, and were able to quell the rebellion. The loss of life was high - more than 11,000 persons died in the fighting, 180 of those reported to be non-Malagasy. The French Overseas Departments and Territories (often abbreviated DOM-TOM for départements doutre-mer, territoires doutre-mer) consist broadly of French-administered or -claimed territories outside of Europe. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in Leap years). ...
The leaders responsible for the uprising have never been conclusively identified. Although the MDRM leadership consistently maintained its innocence, the party was outlawed by the French. Military leaders of the revolt were tried by the French military and twenty were executed. It is reported that 5,000 to 6,000 convictions were produced in further trials, with penalties ranging from brief imprisonment to death.
Madagascar voted in favor of the de Gaulle proposal for autonomy within the French sphere.
A revolt of Antandroy peasants led to strikes and demonstrations, followed by the installation of a military government under Gen. Gabriel Ramanatsoa, who was initially popular with the Left.
By this time Madagascar was heavily reliant on aid from the Soviet bloc and China, and was importing 350,000 metric tons of rice per year, which consumed 20 percent of the country's foreign exchange.