For a newspaper, this anniversary is not merely about longevity. It represents a presence, a responsibility, and an ability to navigate through different eras without losing what defines its identity. Since its creation, Midi Madagasikara has witnessed the transformations of our country, its hopes, its crises, its successes and its disappointments. Forty-three years during which Madagascar has changed, the world has changed, technology has revolutionized our profession and the way everyone accesses information. The newspaper, too, has evolved.
This 43rd year will, however, remain particularly significant. It has first been marked by the passing of one of our founders. His absence leaves a void, but his imprint remains. It naturally persists through "Le Naïf," this column that still carries something of his perspective on society, his spirit and his freedom of expression. But his legacy goes far beyond a single column. He was an architect. And in a certain way, it was also as an architect that he contributed to building Midi Madagasikara: with method and rigor, but also with that creativity essential when one must imagine, adapt and build to last. This mindset continues to guide us. For a newspaper, like a building, must rest on solid foundations while being capable of evolving with its time.
To this memory corresponds a presence that remains invaluable: that of Marthe Rajaofera Andriambelo, founder of Midi Madagasikara. At 90 years old, she continues to illuminate our path and guide us. A privileged witness to more than four decades of the newspaper's history, she embodies its memory, continuity and values. Her experience, her perspective and her advice remain reference points for the generations who have progressively taken over.
For transmitting does not simply mean entrusting a work to those who come after. It also means reminding them of the principles on which it was built, while leaving them the responsibility to make it evolve. Midi Madagasikara thus inscribes itself in a history that transcends generations: a history that each person receives, enriches in turn, then passes on. Being able today to still count on one of its founders, on her experience and on her unwavering attachment to the newspaper, constitutes for us a blessing, a privilege, but also a responsibility: that of remaining faithful to the spirit of our origins while never ceasing to prepare for the future.
And this future is being built in an era of profound upheaval. This year has notably been one of major political turning point for Madagascar. The uprising of Malagasy youth, the removal of Andry Rajoelina from power and the establishment of the "Refoundation of the Republic" government have opened a new chapter in our national history. In these periods of rupture, the role of the press becomes even more essential. A newspaper is not meant to support a government, nor to become the instrument of those who contest it. It must observe, verify, explain, question and, when necessary, confront words with facts. It must give voice without abandoning discernment and report events without being swept away by them.
It is precisely when passions are strongest that rigor, objectivity and neutrality take on their full meaning. The international context reminds us of this as well. Geopolitical tensions and the conflict between the United States and Iran have added new uncertainties to an already deeply unstable world. Conflicts that may seem distant now have economic, diplomatic, energy and social consequences that quickly cross borders. Madagascar is not isolated from these upheavals.
Faced with this multiplication of events and the constant acceleration of information, our profession itself is undergoing profound transformation. Social networks have revolutionized the speed of news circulation. Smartphones have changed reading habits. Video, digital platforms and, now, artificial intelligence are transforming the production and distribution of information. A new generation of readers expects greater immediacy, interactivity and new formats. We must respond to these expectations. But innovation does not mean abandoning who we are. Technology must allow us to be faster, more accessible and closer to our readers. It must never relieve us of our fundamental responsibility.