Timeline: Madagascar

A chronology of key events

1880s-1905 - France consolidates its hold over Madagascar in the face of local resistance.

Antananarivo, the capital, was founded in the 17th century Formerly Tananarive Captured by France in 1895 Population: 1.4 million

1910-20 - Growth of nationalism fuelled by discontent over French rule.

1946 - Madagascar becomes an Overseas Territory of France.

1947 - French suppress armed rebellion in east. Thousands are killed.

1958 - Madagascar votes for autonomy.

Independence

1960 26 June - Independence with Philibert Tsiranana as president.

1972 - Amid popular unrest, Tsiranana dissolves government and hands power to army chief Gen Gabriel Ramanantsoa as head of a provisional government. He reduces the country's ties with France in favour of links with the Soviet Union.

1975 June - Lieutenant-Commander Didier Ratsiraka is named head of state after a coup. The country is renamed the Democratic Republic of Madagascar and Ratsiraka is elected president for a seven-year term.

1976 - Ratsiraka nationalises large parts of the economy, forms the Arema party. Over the years he increases state control over the economy until 1986 when he changes tack and promotes a market economy.

1992 - Under pressure of demonstrations, Ratsiraka introduces democratic reforms. A new constitution is approved by referendum.

1993 - Albert Zafy elected president.

1996 - Zafy impeached. Ratsiraka voted back into office.

People's transport: An outrigged dugout, or pirogue

2000 March - Thousands homeless after two cyclones hit the island and Mozambique.

2000 December - Arema wins in most of the cities, apart from Antananarivo, in provincial elections. The elections are for a new system of local government. Some 70% of voters stay away after the opposition called for a boycott, saying voters had not been properly informed about the reforms.

2001 February - An opposition parliamentary group, the Crisis Unit for the Defence of Democracy, is established following the jailing of MP Jean-Eugene Voninahitsy for insulting the president and cheque fraud.

2001 May - Senate reopens after 29 years, completing the government framework provided for in the 1992 constitution, which replaced the socialist revolutionary system. The new framework comprises the presidency, national assembly, senate and constitutional high court.

Election stand-off

2001 December - First round of presidential elections. Opposition candidate Marc Ravalomanana claims an outright victory and says there's no need for a second round.

2002 January - Ravalomanana and his supporters mount a general strike and mass protests.

2002 February - Ravalomanana declares himself president after weeks of political deadlock with Ratsiraka over the December polls, which he says Ratsiraka rigged. Violence breaks out between rival protesters.

2002 April - High Constitutional Court declares Ravalomanana winner of the December polls after a recount. Ratsiraka says he'll ignore the verdict. In June the US recognises Ravalomanana as legitimate leader of Madagascar.

Ratsiraka in exile

2002 July - Ratsiraka seeks exile in France, marking end of seven-month political crisis.

Veteran leader Didier Ratsiraka was slow to give up power 2002: Ratsiraka - 'Big man' cut to size 2002: Q&A - Madagascar turmoil 2003: Ratsiraka gets 10 years hard labour

2002 December - Ravalomanana's party, I Love Madagascar (TIM), wins a parliamentary majority in elections which are seen as a test of popular support.

2003 February - Former head of the armed forces is charged over an attempted coup against President Ravalomanana.

2003 August - Exiled former president Didier Ratsiraka is sentenced in his absence to 10 years hard labour. He is accused of embezzling public funds.

2003 December - Former PM Tantely Andrianarivo is sentenced to 12 years hard labour for abuse of office.

2004 February/March - Tropical cyclones Elita and Gafilo hit; thousands are left homeless.

2004 October - World Bank, International Monetary Fund say they're writing off nearly half of Madagascar's debt - around $2bn.

2005 March - Madagascar is the first state to receive development aid from the US under a scheme to reward nations considered by Washington to be promoting democracy and market reforms.

2006 May - The main opposition parties boycott talks with President Ravalomanana which were intended to ease political tensions ahead of December's presidential elections.

Ravalomanana re-elected

2006 December - Officials declare Marc Ravalomanana, the incumbent, the winner of presidential elections.

2007 April - Voters in a referendum endorse constitutional reforms to increase presidential powers and make English an official language.

2007 July - President Ravalomanana dissolves parliament after new constitution calls for end to autonomy of provinces.

2007 September - President Ravalomanana's I Love Madagascar (TIM) party wins 106 seats out of 127 in early parliamentary elections.

2007 November - President Ravalomanana opens 3.3 billion dollar nickel cobalt mining project in Tamatave. Mine said to be largest of its kind in the world.

2008 Feb-Mar - Cyclone Ivan, second of the season and one of the largest to hit the island kills 93 and leaves 332,391 homeless. UN launches flash appeal for $36.4 million to help cyclone-hit areas in the country.

2008 March - Madagascar produces first barrels of crude oil in 60 years and at a time of record oil prices. The government has issued 19 licenses to search for offshore oil since last August.

Unrest

2009 January - Dozens are killed as a result of violent protests in Antananarivo following the closure of opposition TV and radio stations. Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina calls on the president to resign, and proclaims himself in charge of the country following the riots.

2009 February - Government sacks Andry Rajoelina from his post as Antananarivo mayor.

Dozens of people are killed after police open fire on an opposition demonstration in the capital, amid ongoing political turmoil. The country's defence minister resigns.

2009 March - A group of military officers mutiny, saying they will now follow opposition leader Andry Rajoelina. President Ravalomanana resigns following further unrest, saying he is handing power over to the military.

Andry Rajoelina assumes power with military and high court backing; suspends parliament and sets up two transitional bodies to run the island.

Amid widespread international condemnation of the army-backed takeover, the US cuts off non-humanitarian aid and the African Union suspends Madagascar's membership. Deposed President Marc Ravalomanana tells his protesting supporters to unite against the "coup".

2009 April - New President Rajoelina issues arrest warrant for deposed President Ravalomanana, who announces that he is to return to Madagascar within weeks to form an inclusive government.

Police fire on pro-Ravalomanana demonstrators during several days of protests against the closure of two opposition radio stations.

Allies of Mr Ravalomanana announce that they have formed a new government, increasing the sense of confusion in the country. Rajoelina government dismisses the move.