The Madagascar Island of the Indian Ocean has a surface area of 590 000 km2 and a population of over fifteen million inhabitants (in 2004).
A French colony in 1896, Madagascar became an overseas territory in 1946.
In 1947, a violent nationalist uprising, instigated by Mouvement Démocratique de Rénovation Malgache (Democratic Movement for the Renovation of Madagascar), occurred in the north and east of the island.
French military intervention was solicited in order to quail down the situation. This campaign, which began in March 1947, ended in October 1949.
After a rather harsh repression, calm returned to the island. The Republic of Madagascar was proclaimed in 1958 and gained independence in 1960.