07 May 2018

In Madagascar, strikes raged between 2014 and 2016, but nothing serious that could truly affect the entire population and foreign travelers visiting Madagascar. Today in 2018, as in 1991, 2001, and 2009, fierce opposition to the sitting president persists, leading to confrontations that have claimed a few lives. Is the country now among destinations to avoid? Can you no longer enjoy Madagascar's wonders with peace of mind? Here are some explanations about the current situation.

• A Crisis Unlike Those in Africa or the Middle East

A dispute between the head of state and the opposition

Disagreements between opposition lawmakers and the "government" have marked the country's political landscape since Hery Rajaonarimampianina's election to the presidency in 2014. They even attempted to pass a motion of impeachment in 2015, but to no avail. Today, a law on presidential elections has been voted on and passed through parliament thanks to widespread corruption (or so it's said), and it appears to favor the political party of the current president and would guarantee his re-election. On Saturday, April 21, 2018, the opposing parties wanted to report to the people regarding the passage of this law on the symbolic Place of May 13, but the prefect refused to grant them authorization to gather there. With the support of only a tiny portion of the local population, the lawmakers attempted to defy this abusive prohibition, leading to a confrontation with police forces that resulted in a few casualties (2 dead and about a dozen wounded). Today, the opposition, led by a collective of 73 lawmakers, is demanding the president's resignation, and demonstrations continue and are intensifying.

No civil war

Despite recurring political crises leading to strikes that have claimed lives, Madagascar has never experienced a civil war. Confrontations have never lasted long and have always involved the party in power and the opposition supported by a portion of the population of Antananarivo. Indeed, the struggle against those in power has always taken place in the capital. It's as though the other cities and regions don't matter, except in 2001, when all regions were represented during marches on Independence Avenue. Everything is always decided on this square, and if there is a red zone, it's only here. In any case, it is very rare to see confrontations linked to political crises or strikes and demonstrations in the provinces, near the main tourist sites of Madagascar.

Political crises come and go

Certainly, tourism in Madagascar always suffers when the country is in crisis, but these are only episodes (albeit a very unfortunate soap opera). Problems arrive, depart, and return. In the meantime, the country struggles to recover economically and socially. Those accustomed to traveling to Madagascar know, however, that with the right tour operator, your stay will always be successful. It would nonetheless be regrettable to pretend the crisis doesn't exist, as though people weren't suffering in the meantime, as though the country weren't struggling, but engaging in tourism in the country contributes to the local economy and helps many people meet their needs during these difficult times. For things to change, the people might perhaps need a revolution to transform ways of thinking, values, and priorities. In any case, Malagasy people generally remain this charming and welcoming people toward foreigners as they have always been, because it's in their culture… in their nature.

• Tourist Sites Far From the Zone of Conflict

The rainforest of the East

Seen from space, the Great Island reveals two distinct facets: a green part to the east and an earth-colored part to the west. The eastern rainforest is a natural treasure containing countless wonders, notably precious woods (rosewood, palisander, mahogany, ebony) and spice plants (coffee, clove, vanilla, ylang-ylang). Tourist circuits centered on nature can include Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and its lemurs, the Pangalanes Canal with its cruises, Sainte-Marie Island and its whales, Masoala National Park and its marine parks, Andringitra Park with its trekking routes, and more. Even if you landed in Antananarivo, once at these tourist sites, it's as though you were in another world, even another planet. Sometimes it's sad to know, sometimes it's simply breathtaking!

Baobabs and wonders of the South and West

The other facet of the island – the west – is not barren! The natural sites are equally extraordinary, including the Tsingy of Bemaraha (a limestone massif deeply jagged about a hundred meters high, covered by dense dry forest spanning 80,000 hectares) and its nature reserve, the Avenue of the Baobabs (with imposing baobabs 30 meters tall and over 800 years old), Isalo Park with its verdant canyons, and more. The west is also home to paradisiacal beaches! The diving spots of Anakao and Ifaty are notably renowned for their coral reefs teeming with beautiful marine life. Humpback whale watching is also one of the flagship activities in these fishing villages. Inland, the baobab is the king of trees!

The beaches of the North

Of course, one cannot speak of Madagascar without mentioning the island of Nosy Be. It's even possible to fly there directly without making a stopover in the capital. This northwestern archipelago is renowned for its magnificent beaches, its desert islets, its diving spots, its luxury hotels, and its music festival (Le Donia). Diving, snorkeling, sport fishing, kitesurfing, cruising, trekking, hiking, motorized expeditions, and horseback riding are among the possible activities. The Antsiranana region also boasts beautiful beaches with turquoise waters, such as Ramena. And what about Diego-Suarez Bay, one of the world's largest? Other attractions include Amber Mountain and the Ankarana Massif (and the Ankarana Reserve), red tsingy, the Emerald Sea… There's no shortage of sites to visit!

Manda Rabemananjara – Détours Madagascar

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