Diego-Suarez

Diego Suarez , Malagasy Antsiranana in , is more the big city of the north of Madagascar and the third port of the Large island. It is the capital of the Province of Diego-Suarez. With the recent installation of the 22 areas in 2004, it became the capital of the area Diana. Its inhabitants are called Antsiranais.

Geography

The city is at the level of the Ambre Cape (Tanjon' I Bobaomby) in the North of Madagascar to coordinates 12.16 S and 49.17 E with in the West the Canal of Mozambique and in the East the Indian Ocean.

It is one of most beautiful bays of the world and the larger second (156 km of coasts) after that of Rio de Janeiro.
The bay of Diégo-Suarez is in fact made up of 4 bays moreover small size:

  • the bay of the Thunder
  • the bay of White Stones
  • the Bottom of Welsh Bag
  • the bay of the French (where is located the headland city of Diégo-Suarez)

This specificity coupled to an ideal position (proximity with the African coasts, Mayotte, the archipelago of the the Comoros and the archipelago of the Seychelles) make a strategic place of it explaining the lively interest of the French forces for the site which in fact a naval Base during colonization.

Toponymy

There exist two theses being able to explain the name of the city:
  • the discovery of bay by the navigators Diogo Dias and Fernan Soares and which gave him their names.

  • the discovery of bay in 1543 by the Portuguese explorer of the same name Diégo Suarez

With the malgachisation the city found its name d'" Antsiranana" , the port. Nevertheless, the old name remains always in force and of everyday usage.

  • the very first name of Diégo-Suarez or Antsiranana is Antomboko, which means “perforated, perforated” due to this natural bay which extends on 156 km. It is the 2nd larger bay in the world after that of Rio de Janeiro, it has also its sugar loaf called Nosy Lonjo.

History

  • 7th century: First vestiges of human presence in the Mountain of the French
  • XVIe century: discovered bay by Portuguese explorers (cf two theories)
  • XVII century: Imaginary republic of " Libertalia".
  • December 17th 1885: signature of a treaty granting to France the right to occupy the territory of Diégo-Suarez and to make " there; installations with its convenance".
The French troops are installed initially in Cape Diégo, then, for reasons of convenience and opening on the back-country, in Antsirane.
  • In 1900, Diégo is declared " not support of the flotte". Under the direction of the Joffre general, the city quickly will develop (construction of the dry dock, the hospital, the military district, the arsenal)
  • August 28th 1895: Catch by French of the fort of Ambohimarina (in the Mountain of the French) occupied by the troops of the queen Ranavalona III
January 28th 1896: decree attaching the colony to the general government of Madagascar.
  • May 5th with the May 7th 1942: Operation " Iron Clad" , the British seize Diégo-Suarez to the hands of the Vichystes troops fearing that these last do not support the Japanese forces (allies of German). * 1946: the British troops reassign the city in France.
  • June 26th, 1960: The island becomes independent, this day will become the national festival.
  • June 3rd 1974: withdrawal of the first French troop: the Foreign legion, followed later by the naval forces of the marine units in 1976.

Population

The city counts approximately 80.000 habitants.
Although it is supposed being the capital of the ethnos group Antakarana " those of the falaises" , Antsiranana is a cosmopolitan city where the diversity of the population is striking:
  • Comorian (10%)
  • Sakalava, Antankarana (65%)
  • Indian (vegetarians, jewellers) (2%)
  • Pakistani (Importer-Wholesalers) (3%)
  • Antandroy (5%)
  • Merina (5%)
    • Chinese
  • (Importers food products) (2,5%)
  • Yemeni and Somalis (grocers) (5%)
  • European (2,5%): French (co-operating, reprocessed), Italians, Swiss
It is a visual statistical estimate, based on external appearance.

Town planning

As one can see it with the toponymy of the streets and the places, the town planning of the city is strongly marked by the French presence.

The urbanization was done in three phases:

  • the old city

The village of Antombouck or Antsirane can be regarded as the core of the city or hypercentre. It was composed of a score of Malagasy straw huts and was discovered by François de Mahy in 1885. This village makes from now on place at a city which extends from now on more and more towards the south.
  • the new city
    Avec colonization, the village became city. This one is directed towards North-North Is and is divided into two parts:
    • the old colonial city: initially installed in the " Basse" city; tightened on 4 hectares around the port, it then extended on the plate: street Colbert, military district, Kabary Place then, later, district of the Granting (street Lafayette)
The new districts of extension to the South (Tanambao I with V, Lazaret, Great bulwark, SCAMA, Ambalavola, Mahatsara, Morafeno etc are as many districts which gain more and more until worms Anamakia and Arrachard).

Archbishop's palace

  • Archdiocese of Antsiranana
  • Cathedral of Antsiranana

External bonds

  • Tourist bureau of Diégo-Suarez
  • TONGASOA
  • Association Zomaré
  • virtual Visite
  • French Lycée Sadi Carnot
  • Madagascar Guides
  • Normada
  • Université of Antsiranana
  • Lexique Antsiranais of gargotte AMBODIMANGA
  • MAMICOM GROUP

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