Among the adventurers who sought to exploit the difficulties faced by Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony following the Franco-Malagasy War of 1883-1885, few were as notorious as the Englishman Kingdon. Archivist Jean Valette describes him as a man who repeatedly attempted to seize control of the country by leveraging every opportunity, whether honest or not.
Under the Treaty of December 17, 1885, the Prime Minister agreed to pay France a war indemnity of 10 million francs. Struggling to meet this sum, which far exceeded the capacity of the Malagasy Treasury, Rainilaiarivony turned to Kingdon, who arrived in Antananarivo in June 1886. Kingdon offered a loan of 20 million francs at 7% interest, in exchange for customs rights in six ports, the creation of a state bank with currency-issuing powers, and gold mining rights.
This exorbitant convention effectively handed Malagasy finances to the British, prompting intervention from the French Resident-General, Le Myre de Vilers. He blocked the contract and pressured the Prime Minister to borrow from France instead, leading to a loan from the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris in December 1886.
Kingdon’s subsequent attempts to form a company were thwarted by the French government, which warned that such loans violated the 1885 treaty. Undeterred, Kingdon sought other avenues, including a massive land concession in the Northwest and the introduction of debased Mexican piastres into the local economy, which caused significant public discontent.
Finally, Kingdon became embroiled in local politics by supporting a failed coup against the Prime Minister’s designated successor, his grandson Ralitera. Following the discovery of the plot in 1893, the Malagasy conspirators were exiled, and Kingdon was expelled from the country, marking the end of his ambitions in Madagascar.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-12 06:38:58 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/la-contrepartie-dune-dette-du.html