Gilles Andriamahazo
Encyclopedia
General
Gilles Andriamahazo (1919–1989) was a Malagasy
general
and political figure. Originally he was a Merina
and served as the military president of Madagascar (Chairman of the National Military Leadership Committee) between 12 February and 15 June 1975.
, Anosy
Region on 13 May 1919, he followed military career. During World War II
Andriamahazo served in the French Army
and participated in the French military campaign against Algeria
n nationalists in the 1950s. He retired as an army officer in 1976.
after the latter's killing. He served as head of state from February to June 1975, when he resigned in favour of Didier Ratsiraka
. He is widely credited with having prevented an outbreak of civil war during the tension that followed after Colonel Ratsimandrava's assassination. He died of heart attack at the age of 70, on 14 September 1989.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Gilles Andriamahazo (1919–1989) was a Malagasy
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and political figure. Originally he was a Merina
Merina
The Merina are an ethnic group from Madagascar. The Merina are concentrated in the Highlands and speak the official dialect of the Malagasy language, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group derived from the Barito languages, spoken in southern Borneo. Their ancestors, the...
and served as the military president of Madagascar (Chairman of the National Military Leadership Committee) between 12 February and 15 June 1975.
Early life and military career
Born in Fort DauphinFort Dauphin
Fort Dauphin can refer to:Canada* Fort Dauphin , in Manitoba* Fort Dauphin , in Nova ScotiaHaiti* Fort-Liberté in HaitiMadagascar* Fort Dauphin...
, Anosy
Anosy
-Introduction:Anosy is a region in southeastern Madagascar. It borders Androy region in west, Atsimo-Andrefana in north-west, Ihorombe in north and Atsimo-Atsinanana in north-east. This region runs from approximately Manantenina in the northeast corner of the region, west to Ranomafana, west to...
Region on 13 May 1919, he followed military career. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Andriamahazo served in the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
and participated in the French military campaign against Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n nationalists in the 1950s. He retired as an army officer in 1976.
Government
He was the successor of Richard RatsimandravaRichard Ratsimandrava
Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava was President of Madagascar for six days in February 1975. His assassination in 1975 led to a civil war.- Military career :...
after the latter's killing. He served as head of state from February to June 1975, when he resigned in favour of Didier Ratsiraka
Didier Ratsiraka
Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka is a Malagasy politician who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002.-Second Republic:...
. He is widely credited with having prevented an outbreak of civil war during the tension that followed after Colonel Ratsimandrava's assassination. He died of heart attack at the age of 70, on 14 September 1989.