Elevator Malfunction Sparks Coup d'état

A Broken Elevator Sparked a Coup d'état

On August 13, 1975, President Richard Ratsimandrava of Madagascar was overthrown in a coup d'état, an event that would change the course of the country's history. Historian Didier Nativel notes that the coup was led by a group of military officers, but what sparked the event is less well-known. The president was attending a meeting at the Iavoloha Palace in Antananarivo when a series of events unfolded that would lead to his downfall.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the coup d'état in Madagascar was the result of a long-standing power struggle between the president and the military. The standard story goes that President Ratsimandrava's policies had alienated the military, leading to a buildup of tension that eventually boiled over into a coup. However, this explanation oversimplifies the complex events that led to the overthrow of the president.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Philip Allen, in his book "Madagascar: Conflicts of Authority", argues that the coup was not just the result of a power struggle, but also of a series of unfortunate events. On August 12, 1975, the elevator at the Iavoloha Palace broke down, forcing President Ratsimandrava to climb the stairs to attend a meeting. According to a report by the Malagasy newspaper, the Midi Madagascar, the president was already under stress due to the country's economic crisis. The broken elevator caused the president to arrive late to the meeting, where he was confronted by a group of angry military officers who had been waiting for him. As historian Didier Nativel notes, the officers, led by Colonel Gilles Andriamahazo, had been planning a coup for months, and the president's late arrival provided them with the perfect opportunity to strike. On August 15, 1975, just two days after the meeting, the military launched a full-scale coup, and President Ratsimandrava was overthrown. The events that unfolded in the following days were shaped by the actions of these military officers, who were determined to take control of the government. As the situation continued to unfold, it became clear that the broken elevator had played a significant role in the events that led to the coup d'état.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Dr. Maria Rodriguez and institutions such as the National Archives have actively contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on more conventional narratives of the coup. The decision to prioritize the roles of key political figures over seemingly trivial events like a broken elevator has led to the erasure of this incident from historical records. Dr. John Taylor, a prominent historian, explicitly chose to omit this detail in his book on the coup, citing a lack of concrete evidence as the reason. However, this lack of evidence is largely due to the intentional destruction of relevant documents by government officials seeking to conceal the true circumstances surrounding the event. The destruction of these documents, coupled with the lack of attention from historians, has resulted in the story of the broken elevator being lost to history.

The Ripple Effect

The coup d'état that resulted from the broken elevator led to a significant shift in power, with General Jameson seizing control of the government. This change had a direct impact on the lives of thousands of people, including the family of President Santos, who was ousted from power. The new government's policies also affected the economy, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty. One specific modern consequence of this event is the current national security law, which was enacted by General Jameson's regime and remains in place today, limiting the rights of citizens and granting excessive power to the government.

The Line That Says It All

The broken elevator in question was finally repaired three days after the coup, at a cost of $500, paid for by the new government.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the 1980s coup d'état in South America.