Death of former Malagasy President Didier Ratsiraka

The former Malagasy President, Didier Ratsiraka, died on Sunday at the age of 84. He was hospitalized since last Monday, officially for a « small flu ».

« The Admiral took his leave this morning. He joined the stars from where he will continue to watch over us! Rest in Peace. May the Eternal God Almighty bring comfort to his family. It is through this message posted on the Facebook page of Didier Ratsiraka that his death was announced on Sunday morning. The former President, aged 84, had been hospitalized last Monday along with his wife, Celine Ratsiraka, at the military hospital of Soavinandriana, « following a routine check-up due to a small flu ».

The Covid-19 test carried out on the occasion would have revealed a negative result, according to information published on the Facebook page of the former President and confirmed by his nephew, the deputy Roland Ratsiraka, who said that « the former President is in good shape, walks and talks well », after a visit to the latter.

For the moment, no official communication on the causes of death of the man who, a few days ago, made a televised intervention in which he spoke about the political situation of his country, the fight against Covid-19 in which he recommended the use of the vaccine.

An officer in the Navy, Ratsiraka entered the political arena of his country by becoming, at the age of 36, Minister of Foreign Affairs, before becoming President of the Republic between 1975 and 1993, and then from 1997 to 2002.