Richard Ratsimandrava (March 21, 1931-February 11, 1975) was president of Madagascar for six days in February 1975. A graduate of the French military college in Saint Cyr, Ratsimandrava served throughout French Africa before returning to Madagascar when that country gained independence in 1960. He joined the army, attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel by 1968. In 1972 President Gabriel Ramanantsoa established a military government to replace the independence government of Philibert Tsiranana, and Ratsimandrava was appointed Minister of the Interior. In this position, he was able to manipulate the army that led to the ouster of Ramanantsoa on February 5, 1975. Six days later Ratsimandrava was assassinated while driving from the presidential palace to his home. The event nearly plunged the country into civil war between supporters of the military government and former President Tsiranana.
