Former president of Madagascar, Didier Ratsiraka, dies at 84

The former president of Madagascar Didier Ratsiraka, who spent almost two decades at the helm of the country sheltered in a failed attempt at socialist revolution, died this Sunday at the age of 84, according to his official page on Facebook.

Ratsiraka, who served as Head of State twice (1975-1993 and 1997-2002), had been hospitalized earlier this week to undergo, in principle, a routine examination.

Whoever was known as the “Red Admiral” for his socialist policies came directly from the ranks of the Navy to become Foreign Minister, reports Radio France International.

During his tenure he achieved the approval in a referendum of the so-called Charter of the Socialist Revolution and the Constitution of the Second Republic.

However, the failure of his initiative gave way to a liberal era championed by his first successor, Albert Zafy, although shortly after he returned to power until the explosion of a post-electoral crisis that forced him into exile in France for nine years.

Since his return and until very recently, he was actively involved in Malagasy politics and was regularly invited to televisions to present his analyzes.