# Didier Ratsiraka

_President of Madagascar (1936-2021)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/didier-ratsiraka
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Didier Ignace Ratsiraka was a Malagasy politician and naval officer who was the third president of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and the fifth from 1997 to 2002. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving president of Madagascar.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 4 November 1936 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Vatomandry ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P19))
- **Died:** 28 March 2021 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P570))
- **Place of death:** Antananarivo ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P20))
- **Citizenship:** France; Madagascar ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; diplomat ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P106))
- **Political party:** Malagasy Revolutionary Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P102))
- **Education:** Lycée Henri-IV; École Navale; College of Saint Michael, Amparibe ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P69))
- **Spouse:** Céline Ratsiraka ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Madagascar (9 February 1997 – 5 July 2002); President of Madagascar (15 June 1975 – 27 March 1993); Minister of Foreign Affairs (1972–1975) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953#P39))

## Questions

**When was Didier Ratsiraka born?**  
Didier Ratsiraka was born on 4 November 1936 in Vatomandry.

**What positions has Didier Ratsiraka held?**  
Positions held by Didier Ratsiraka include: President of Madagascar (1997–2002); President of Madagascar (1975–1993); Minister of Foreign Affairs (1972–1975).

**Where did Didier Ratsiraka study?**  
Didier Ratsiraka was educated at Lycée Henri-IV, École Navale, College of Saint Michael, Amparibe.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Didier Ratsiraka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Ratsiraka) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q315953](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315953) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Didier Ratsiraka 1997.jpg by Benoît Bourgeois / European Commission (CC BY 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Didier_Ratsiraka_1997.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Didier Ratsiraka, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Didier Ratsiraka 1997.jpg — Benoît Bourgeois / European Commission, CC BY 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Didier Ratsiraka". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/didier-ratsiraka. Retrieved 6 November 2026.