President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated the Government and people of the Republic of Madagascar on the occasion commemorating the 56th Independence Anniversary.
 

June 26 annually is celebrated as Independence Day in the Republic of Madagascar. On that day in 1960, Madagascar proclaimed its independence from France as the Malagasy Republic.

In 1896, France finally annexed Madagascar and imposed a protectorate over the island. After the Second World War, the Malagasy people began to struggle for their independence. The Malagasy Uprising of 1947-1948 was repressed, but in 1958 France granted Madagascar autonomy, and on June 26, 1960, the country achieved full independence.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, extended warmest congratulations to the Government and people of Madagascar, and said she looks forward to strengthening ongoing bilateral cooperation between their two countries for the mutual benefit of their two peoples.

The Liberian leader prayed that as their two countries work together in furtherance of peace, security and economic integration, the Almighty God will endow President Hery Rajaonarimampianina with abundant wisdom and strength as he leads his compatriots to greater prosperity.