Daniel Rajakoba (21 October 1940[1] - 30 June 2024[2]) was a Malagasy politician.
| Daniel Rajakoba | |
| Birth Place: | Antonibe, Sofia Region |
| Party: | Fihavanantsika |
| Alma Mater: | Antananarivo University |
Born in Antonibe, Sofia Region, Rajakoba studied teaching at Antananarivo University.[1] He became a professor before being appointed Minister of the Civil Service, Labour, and Social Laws by President Gabriel Ramanantsoa in 1972, a post he held until Didier Ratsiraka seized power in 1975.[3] He preached on the radio every week during this period.[1]
In 1987, Rajakoba went to study theology and linguistics in Aix-en-Provence and Montpellier. In 1999, he was made a Pastor of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, and he began preaching for the Malagasy Protestant Church of France.[1]
On August 3, 2001, the Isika Miara-Mandroso (Imima) association announced that it was presenting Rajakoba as a candidate in the December 2001 presidential election.[4] Rajakoba returned to Madagascar in that year[1] and received 2.0% of the votes in the election.[5] He founded the Fihavanantsika party in 2002, and on June 14, 2006 he announced that he would run again in the December 2006 presidential election as Fihavanantsika's candidate.[6] In the election, he placed tenth with 0.64% of the vote.[5] [7]
In 2011, Daniel Rajakoba openly criticized Andry Rajoelina's regime, calling it a new form of organized colonialism.[8]
He married Monique Rakoto in 1967, and together they have eight children.[1]