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Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world.
On December 5, 2007 several months after Nathan Petrelli's announcement to the world about the Evolved, the Nation of Madagascar was driven into a panic. Eleven residents of the city of Mandritsara publicly came out to the local government about their Evolved state as an attempt to assuage fears about the Evolved in the country and the world. These eleven individuals were rounded up under orders of General Edmond Rasoul and executed at his estate. That following night, Rasoul organized a group of seven hundred soldiers to converge on the city of Mandritsara and raze it to the ground in fears that there were more than the eleven Evolved hiding out there.
Rasoul's fears were well grounded, as were his reasons for executing the eleven. Several of them were members of an underground resistance organization that was aware of the Vanguard's operations in the regions and were actively undermining their activities, unaware that Rasoul himself was their leader. They went to the General for safety, and instead found death.
After the city of Mandritsara was shelled into a pile of smoldering rubble, then Prime Minister Pascal Ramahatra ordered the borders of the nation closed to all foreign traffic in an attempt to control the flow of information out of the country about the massacre. Rasoul fed false intelligence to the Prime Minister about the Evolved, claiming they made an attempt on his life, and the attack was a necessary precaution for the people, and that there was a "conspiracy" among the "genetic aberrations" of Madagascar to wipe out the "lesser race" of men. This led to a genetic cleansing of the evolved and anyone accused of being Evolved in public executions and brutal violence.
Prime Minister Pascal Ramahatra was later assassinated in March of 2009 by Rasoul and his loyalists, representing a growing political faction in the government of Madagascar. By mid-day, General Edmond Rasoul announced a full and total military coup of the government of Madagascar to 'ensure the cultural and genetic purity of the Madagascar people in light of the infection plaguing this world."
This status-quo was maintained up until Christmas Day 2009 when a multi-national coalition led by the United States of America invaded the country of Madagascar to topple General Edmond Rasoul's regime. The invasion, codenamed Operation Apollo's Arrow was aided from the inside by members of the Madagascar Liberation Front and a covert team of Special Ops that infiltrated the country in the weeks prior to help coordinate the invasion.
In the time following Operation Apollo's Arrow the nation of Madagascar has seen law and order restored and the last of Edmond Rasoul's loyalists neutralized. In the wake of this period of calm, the United States Government has taken a vested interest in the island nation and it is expected that the United States will remain in Madagascar for years to come helping rebuild and reorganize their country.
In June 2010 the Malagasy Registry of Evolved was instituted on the island of Madagascar forming a registry of Evolved peoples on the island similar to the registry instated by the Linderman Act in the United States.
At present, Madagascar has once more opened its borders to the public, and the presence of US military on the streets of its capitol city and patroling the countryside alongside Malagasy soldiers is a common sight. While Madagascar is still a hot spot of tension between the Evolved and Non-Evolved, it is a very valuable nation that has received growing attention from companies wishing to capitalize on the still solidifying government to make their states in Malagasy politics and business.
Major IC Events
Madagascar was the site of a months long storyline in Volume Eight called "In This Twilight" where the liberation of Madagascar was played out first-hand by characters who signed up to participate in the several month long series of events.
Places
The Commune of Analalava
Madagascar's Rivers
Memorial Ruins of Mandritsara
The City of Antananarivo
Madagascar in the News
2008 Presidential Debates
"And how much of the rebuilt America would be owned by foreign interests? Exactly how much is our sovereignty worth on the open market to interested parties willing to take advantage of a wounded nation struggling to get back up on its feet? Between the subway collapse in London caused by a terrakinetic and the entire Madagascar Incident the world is struggling just as much as we are as a nation. We should be supporting ourselves, not leaning on the rich and powerful nations for our own support. We should be our own support, we're strong enough for that, without having to carve off a pound of flesh in order to do it." — Allen Rickham
December 5, 2008 — World News
AFRICA, Madagascar - One year after the Madagascar Incident, refugees are being allowed to return to the devastated ruins of Mandritsara in the Sofia Region of the country. While the bloodshed of this genetic cleansing massacre is still fresh in the minds of the survivors of that terrible night, the 3,500 survivors of some estimated 17,000 are eager to put the past behind them, and attempt to rebuild their lives and remember in fondness those who passed. Prime Minister Pascal Ramahatra proclaimed this day of mourning into a national holiday, and is making a strong effort to use this incident as a manner to unite the peoples of Madagascar as a whole in light of the changes made to the world. As of December 5th 2007, the country of Madagascar has remained closed to all incoming foreign traffic, and the nation still refuses to allow citizens of Madagascar who were out of the country on the closing of the borders to return home.
March 20, 2009 — World News
AFRICA, Madagascar — Prime Minister Pascal Ramahatra was assassinated early Tuesday morning by a group of anti-evolved extremists representing a growing political faction in the government of Madagascar. By mid-day Tuesday, General Edmond Rasoul announced a full and total military coup of the government of Madagascar to 'ensure the cultural and genetic purity of the Madagascar people in light of the infection plaguing this world."
This stunning turn of events comes just a few short months following Prime Minister Ramahatra's decree to allow refugees from the devastated ruins of Mandritsara in the Sofia Region to return home. General Rasoul has renewed all efforts by the Madagascar military to turn away any and all foreign transportation coming in to the country. Scattered reports coming from within Madagascar indicate that public executions have begun in many major cities of openly Evolved citizens who had come out of hiding following the Prime Minister's declaration of the one year anniversary of the destruction of Mandritsara as a national day of mourning.
It is unknown just how many lives were lost in the first wave of cleansing or how many have been lost since, but by Thursday reports have begun surfacing that rebellious pockets of supporters to the deposed regeime of Pascal Ramahatra have been struggling against General Rasoul's coup.
December 30, 2009 — World News
AFRICA, Madagascar — The world was shocked into activity on the morning before Christmas Eve by a stunning display of military power covertly brought into operation by the United States of America. Operation Madagascar Freedom (also known as Operation: Apollo's Arrow) commenced in the pre-dawn hours off the west coast of the beleaguered island nation of Madagascar. Led by an airstrike launched from the USS George Washington, a strike force of unknown size was inserted into the capital of Madagascar to remove the nation's dictator General Edmond Rasoul from power.
General Rasoul officially seized power on March 20th after an assassination of the nation's Prime Minister Pascal Ramahatra. However even prior to the Prime Minister's assassination, Madagascar had been a hotbed of strife following a brutal genetic cleansing as a result of the infamous 2007 speech by then Senator Nathan Petrelli revealing the Evolved to the world.
The United States had repeatedly warned General Rasoul to return control of the government of Madagascar to the hands of its people and step down, but repeated threats against the United States and intelligence confirming atrocities and war crimes committed within the country forced the nation to act.
In coordination with internal freedom-fighting elements of the Malagasy people, the United States military was able to successfully perform a precision strike against General Rasoul's military assets and cripple his armed forces. Word out of the nation indicates that General Rasoul was killed in the assault, and that his supporters and remaining military element are surrendering under the presence of the United States military's forces.
As of January First, a coalition force consisting of soldiers from Great Britain, France, Germany and Canada will supplement the US military forces on ground in restoring law and order to the Malagasy people and institute a transitionary government until such a time that the nation is able to recover from the conditions instituted by the General in his grasp of power.
President Nathan Petrelli attended a brief press-conference today to say that he was "Exteremely proud of the bravery of the United States military and those whom closely worked with them to ensure that America remains a force for peace and stability in the world." He continued to say that he, "Wishes the best for the people of Madagascar, and hopes that the hearts of the world will reach out to aid these people in this difficult time."
Critics of the Petrelli administration are up in arms about the prospect of another military occupation taking place while the nation's armed forces are spread thing across Iraq and Afghanistan. Only time will tell whether the US occupation of Madagascar will lead to stability in the troubled region or become yet another prolonged occupation in the shades of the Middle East.
New York Times, Special Edition, January 4, 2009
From the moment the U.S. decided to remove the brutal regime of General Edmond Rasoul and help Malagasy people restore peace, one of our key challenges has been enabling the leaders of Madagascar's major communities to overcome their mistrust and fear of each other. This has not been easy.
Rasoul was skilled at pitting one group against another to strengthen his position, as is evident with his separation of Evolved and Non-Evolved citizenry. The fear and resistance that has plagued Madagascar since his downfall have only deepened these divisions. Citizens who have lived under the General's Regime have a strong distrust for the Evolved and many still blame them for the condition that has befallen their country.
But now a process is underway to bridge these differences. On January 2nd, groups of diplomats from the United States hosted the leaders of the MLF and representatives of the disperate Malagasy communities for a shared lunch. The group included Madagascar Liberation Front leader Dajan Dunsimi, Malagasy People's Representative leaders such as Botani Musawa, and surviving members from the dismantled Malagasy parliament, regional government. The goal was to start the process of forming a national unity government.
The discussions were often highly emotional. The leaders of each of Madagascar's communities strongly feel and express the pain suffered by their people during Madagascar's difficult dictatorship and the war crimes comitted by General Rasoul's loyalists during that time. Members of the MLF expressed bitterness about the distrust of the citizenry of Antananarivo and Madagascar's other major cities and communes due to the presence of the Evolved in their ranks, as well as displeasure at the United States Military for the countless civilians deaths during Operation: Apollo's Arrow from inaccurate bombing raids that cost the lives of so many innocent Malagasy. Members of the Malagasy People's League complained about what they see as persecution by the new Madagascari government's security forces for their distrust of the Evolved, and cite a failure to be able to identify and recognize the dangers that they could potentially represent in a new government and society. Overcoming these grievances will not be easy, and the bargaining over specific roles in the new government will be tough and often contentious.
To build on this progress, Madagascar's leaders now need to agree on a process to unite the country.
First, they need to form a government of national unity. This is not a matter of dividing up ministries and communes, with each used to favor the parochial interests of the minister's ethnic or genetic community or political faction. Rather, it means selecting ministers from all communities who will build political bridges, who are committed to a unified Madagascar and who have demonstrated professional competence. Getting the next government right is far more important that getting it formed fast.
Malagasy leaders also must agree to a decision-making process that gives political minorities confidence that the majority will share power and take their legitimate concerns into account. Madagascar's leaders believe that this could be accomplished by forming a council composed of key Malagasy leaders to focus on issues of national importance.
Elected leaders need to govern from the center, not the ideological extremes. This is particularly true in the security area, where the new government must continue increasing the capability of Madagascar security forces while ensuring that Defense and Interior Ministry officials are chosen on the basis of competence, not ethnic or sectarian background. In addition, the government must begin the process of demobilizing the factional militias across the country.
The greatest hurdle will be re-integrating the Evolved into the nation of Madagascar and soothing the tensions between that genetic rift. Th healing process of the suffering nation will not be easy, but the building blocks have been formed, and though discussions had begun about the potential of an Evolved Registration system in the country of Madagascar, modeled after the American Linderman Act registry, no affirmative decisions have yet to be made, and Madagascar's future is still very much undecided.
January 4, 2010
MADAGASCAR, CAMP STAR, Antananarivo — Members of the Madagascar Military that had joined the Madagascar Liberation Front after General Rasoul's coup de tat recently converged on Camp Star in Antananarivo along with their freedom-fighter companions. They arrived ready to train with, and learn from, Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade and the 1st Brigade Combat Team.
The Multi-National Division — Antananarivo, taught the Malagasy forces various air assault techniques, to include conducting static and cold loading on UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
During training, the Malagasy soldiers learned how to properly enter and exit a Blackhawk helicopter. The speed with which the Iraqi soldiers took to the training impressed the American Soldiers.
"We're just dumping all this knowledge on the Madagascar army guys and they are learning fast," said Spc. Kyle Farnes, a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter mechanic from Bountiful , Utah , assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment. "After a while, they picked up some English. They're eager to learn and they got the job done."
Although the rotors were not turning and the wheels remained parked, it was the first time the Malagasy soldiers were on a helicopter.
"They're coming along," pointed out 1st Sgt. Daniel Greider, of 1st BCT's Company B, 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment. "This will pay dividends in the long run." The training was broken down into steps for the Malagasy soldiers, said Lt. Alfredo Reyes, 3rd Bn., 4th Avn. Rgmt. platoon leader, "We essentially took them through crawl-walk-run training from landing zone posture to getting on and off the aircraft," Reyes said, Blackhawk pilot. "They grasped it pretty well. We taught them straight off the Combat Aviation Brigade's Tactical Standard Operating Procedures." Reyes pointed out that the language barrier was only a speed bump in completing the training. "Without the language barrier, it would be the same training American Soldiers receive," Reyes said.
By the end of the training, the Malagasy soldiers were picking up the ins and outs of riding in the helicopters. Basic actions, such as echoing the time before landing after the crew chief announces "one minute" and "30 seconds," along with more advanced safety-related tasks, such as not taking up positions too close to the helicopter wheels or too close to the engines' exhaust vents, were other key elements the Malagasy army soldiers learned.
The training was designed to help the new Madagascar army better defend itself against expected resistance from pockets of General Rasoul's remaining militia forces and to establish itself as a more capable defense force for its people.
"The impact of training the Malagasy army with American Soldiers is paramount to our success here," concluded Reyes.
Global News, February 2010
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar - Two months out following the conclusion of the Malagasy civil war and the removal of the dictator General Edmond Rasoul, the nation of Madagascar is slowly making steps towards recovery. On Monday, a mass funeral service was held on the slopes of Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, for the hundreds of thousands killed in the genetic cleansing attacks under Rasoul's leadership. The candle-light vigil was overseen by the security of the United States Miliary's peacekeeping forces on the island nation, and the several hour long service was a way of moving on for the Malagasy People.
Representative Dajan Dunsimi, spokesperson for the Malagasy Liberation Front that worked in coalition with the United States Government to topple Rasoul had this to say; "The people of Madagascar are strong, stronger than they realize. We can move past these terrible things that have been done to us, past the terrible history of violence and bloodshed in this country that has plagued us from time even before General Rasoul. We will rebuild, we will be stronger than ever, and Madagascar will become something the Malagasy people can be proud to call their home again."
The US Military is expected to remain a presence in the Madagascar region to help the reconstruction of the country's infrastructure for at least two years, if not further. Washington analysts speculate that each month the US Military remains in Madagascar, it will cost the America taxpayers 1.2 billion dollars.
Global News, January 2011
MADAGASCAR — Tragedy rocked the island nation of Madagascar today when newly appointed Prime Minister Botani Musawa was killed in the first terrorist violence in the nation since its liberation in 2009. During the indoctrination ceremony of Madagascar's first Prime Minister in nearly four years a rocket propelled grenade was fired at the stage from a nearby rooftop that was supposed to be secured by members of the United States military.
The rocket detonated on the stage, instantly killing Musawa and his chief of staff and critically injuring seventeen others, including hero of the people and leader of the Madagascar Liberation Front Dajan Dunsimi, who participated in the liberation of his homeland alongside American forces in 2009's military liberation of the country from military dictator Edmond Rasoul.
Immediately following the blast, US military forces converged on the site of the rocket attack's origin but were unable toa pprehend the attacker, who had disappeared prior to the blast. Attendants in the crowd reported hearing two explosions, one that shortly followed the explosion on stage, while others claim that it was thunder from thestorm clouds that had gathered over Mandritsara that morning.
General Timothy Moritz of the United States Army, commander of the Madagascar reclamation operation revealed that CIA analysis of the assassination indicates possible involvement by so far unknown anti-evolved insurgents that may be present within the country. The United States has begun a full investigation into the attack, and it is believed that Musawa's strong pro-evolved stance and push for an independant Magadascar is likely what prompted the attack.
Secretary of Urban Development Abero Domon, a member of Musawa's cabinet has been sworn in as acting Prime Minister until a proper election can be handled once the situation in the country has become more stable. In regards to the assassination, General Moritz explained that, "this is evidence that the situation in Madagascar may not be as stable as Musawa had wanted to believe. We feel that it is imperitive that the US Military remain in Madagascar until the nation is able to stand on its own two feet again. It is our nation's responsibility after overthrowing General Rasoul to ensure liberty and security for the Malagasy people.
At current, the United States Military is scheduled to remain in Madagascar through 2016.