Madagascar Armed Forces

Madagascar Armed Forces
French: Forces armées de Madagascar
Malagasy: Tafika Malagasy
Founded16th century
Current form1960
Service branchesMalagasy Army
Malagasy Air Force
Malagasy Navy
National Gendarmerie
HeadquartersAntananarivo
Leadership
Commander-in-chiefColonel Michael Randrianirina
MinisterDeramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo
Chief of StaffGeneral Demosthene Pikulas
Personnel
Conscription18 months (military and non-military service)
Active personnel13,500 (military)
8,100 (National Gendarmerie)[1]
Related articles
RanksMilitary ranks of Madagascar

The Madagascar Armed Forces (French: Forces armées de Madagascar, Malagasy: Tafika Malagasy) is the national military of Madagascar. As of 2025, the Malagasy armed forces consist of an Army of 12,500, a Navy of 500, and a 500-strong Air Force.[2]

The armed forces were involved in the 2009 Malagasy political crisis and the 2025 Malagasy protests, playing a central role in the subsequent 2025 Malagasy mutiny. During World War II, Malagasy troops fought in France, Morocco, and Syria.

History

The rise of centralized kingdoms among the Sakalava, Merina and other ethnic groups produced the island's first standing armies, first equipped with spears, but later with muskets, cannons and other firearms. King Ralambo (1575–1612) raised the first standing army in the highland Kingdom of Imerina with a handful of guns, although for at least two centuries the armies of the Sakalava were much larger and better equipped, possessing thousands of muskets obtained principally through trade with European partners.[3] By the early 19th century, however, the army of the Kingdom of Imerina was able to bring much of the island under Merina control.

Merina Queen Ranavalona, like her predecessors, utilized the tradition of fanampoana (service due to the sovereign in lieu of taxes) to conscript a large portion of the population of Imerina into military service, enabling the queen to raise a standing army that was estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers.[4]

By the late 19th century French plans to colonize Madagascar were gaining momentum, leading British mercenaries to provide training to the queen's army in an unsuccessful bid to repel the French troops. Madagascar was colonized in 1896, and during World War II over 46,000 Malagasy soldiers were drafted to fight with the Allies, over 2,000 of whom died fighting for France.[5]

Madagascar gained political independence and sovereignty over its military in 1960. Since this time Madagascar has never engaged in an armed conflict, whether against another state or within its own borders. As such the armed forces of Madagascar have primarily served a peacekeeping role. However, the military has occasionally intervened to restore order during periods of political unrest. When President Philibert Tsiranana was forced to step down in 1972, a military directorate ensured an interim government before appointing one of its own, Admiral Didier Ratsiraka, to lead the country into its socialist Second Republic. He launched a strategy of obligatory national armed or civil service for all young citizens regardless of gender. The majority were channeled into civil service, including agriculture and education programs for rural development based on the socialist Soviet model.[6] Ratsiraka would also mobilize elements of the military to pacify unarmed protesters, occasionally using violent means. His order to fire upon unarmed protesters in 1989 was the catalyst for transition to the democratic Third Republic in 1992. The military remained largely neutral during the protracted standoff between incumbent Ratsiraka and challenger Marc Ravalomanana in the disputed 2001 presidential elections. By contrast, in 2009 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. It is widely believed that payoffs were involved in persuading these military personnel to change camps in support of the coup d'état.[5]

As of 2010, the military of Madagascar is composed of the 8,100 paramilitary of the National Gendarmerie and the 13,500 members of the Armed Forces. The CIA Factbook describes the Armed Forces as consisting of the Intervention Force, Aeronaval Force (navy and air) and the Development Force. Military service is voluntary and limited to males aged 18 to 25; every citizen of either gender is required to perform either military or civil service for a minimum of 18 months. However, because of a lack of up-to-date census data, this requirement is not currently enforced. The Gendarmerie recruits Malagasy citizens between the ages of 20 and 30 (or 35 if the recruit has prior military service). Military expenses constituted just over one percent of GDP.[7] Under Ravalomanana, military expenditure doubled from 54 million USD in 2006 to 103 million USD in 2008.[8]

Equipment

Army

Small arms

Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
TT-33[9] 7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol Soviet Union
MAC 50[9] 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol French Fourth Republic / France
M1911[9] .45 ACP Semi-automatic pistol United States
Rifles
SKS[9] 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle Soviet Union
AKM[9] 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Soviet Union
AK-74[9] 5.45×39mm Assault rifle Soviet Union
Type 63[9] 7.62×39mm Assault rifle China
Type 56[9] 7.62×39mm Assault rifle China
Machine guns
DShK[9] 12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun Soviet Union
AA-52[9] 7.5×54mm General-purpose machine gun French Fourth Republic / France
Browning M2[9] .50 BMG Heavy machine gun United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7[9] 40mm Rocket-propelled grenade Soviet Union
LRAC F1[10] 89mm Shoulder-launched missile weapon France

Armoured fighting vehicles

Model Image Origin Quantity Details
Light tanks
PT-76 Soviet Union 12 [11]
Reconnaissance
BRDM-2 Soviet Union ~35 [11]
FV701 Ferret United Kingdom 10 [11]
M3A1 United States ~20 [11]
M8 8 [11]
Armoured personnel carriers
Panthera T4 United Arab Emirates 6 [11][12][13]

Anti-tank/anti-infrastructure

Model Image Origin Caliber Quantity Details
Recoilless rifles
M40A1 United States 106mm Not stated [11]

Artillery

Model Image Origin Caliber Quantity Details
Towed
M101 United States 105mm 5 [11]
D-30 Soviet Union 122mm 12 [11]
Mortars
M-37 Soviet Union 82mm Not stated [11]
M-43 120mm 8 [11]

Air defence

Model Image Origin Caliber Quantity Details
Towed
ZPU-4 Soviet Union 14.5mm 50 [11]
PG-55 37mm 20 [11]
See also: Madagascar Navy

Air force

Model Origin Quantity Details
Transport
Cessna 172 United States 4 [14]
Let L-410 Turbolet 1 [15]
Cessna 206 6 [14]
Cessna 310 1 [14]
Cessna 337 2 [14]
PA-23 1 [14]
B-737 2 [14]
CN235M Spain 1 [14]
J.300 France 2 [14]
Tetras 1 [11]
Yak-40 Soviet Union 4 [14]
Helicopters
SA318C France 3 [14]
AS350 3 [14]
BK117 Japan 1 [14]

See also

References

  1. ^ IISS (2012), p. 442
  2. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed. (2025). The Military Balance 2025. Place of publication not identified: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-041-04967-8.
  3. ^ Barendse, R. J. (2002). The Arabian seas: the Indian Ocean world of the seventeenth century. Berlin: M.E. Sharpe. pp. 259–274. ISBN 978-0-7656-0729-4. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  4. ^ Freeman, Joseph John; Johns, David (1840). A narrative of the persecution of the Christians in Madagascar: with details of the escape of six Christian refugees now in England. Berlin: J. Snow. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Bradt (2010), pp. 7-10
  6. ^ Strakes, Jason (2006), "Armed Forces of the People", in Leonard, Thomas M. (ed.), Encyclopedia of the developing world, vol. 1, New York: Taylor & Francis, p. 86, ISBN 978-1-57958-388-0, retrieved April 1, 2011
  7. ^ "The World Factbook: Madagascar". Central Intelligence Agency. April 1, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  8. ^ IISS Military Balance 2010, p.467
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jane's World Armies online edition (19 May 2011)
  10. ^ Strakes, Jason (2006), "Armed Forces of the People", in Leonard, Thomas M. (ed.), Encyclopedia of the developing world, vol. 1, New York: Taylor & Francis, p. 86, ISBN 978-1-57958-388-0, retrieved April 1, 2011
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 13, 2024). The Military Balance 2024 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 244. ISBN 978-1032780047.
  12. ^ Martin, Guy (2020-07-10). "Madagascar operating Panthera T4 armoured vehicles". defenceWeb. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  13. ^ de Cherisey, Erwan (2020-07-08). "Madagascar Armed Forces field new armoured vehicles". Janes. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 13, 2024). The Military Balance 2024 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 245. ISBN 978-1032780047.
  15. ^ midi-madagasikara.mg

Bibliography

  • Bradt, Hilary (2011). Madagascar, 10th Ed.: The Bradt Travel Guide. London: Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-341-2. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  • "Madagascar". Jane's World Armies (online edition). IHS Jane's. 19 May 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  • World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 339 Sheet 01

 This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2006 ed.). CIA.

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