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Antsiranana ( ), named Diego-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city in the far north of Madagascar. Antsiranana is the capital of Diana Region. It had an estimated population of 115,015 in 2013.Institut National de la Statistique, Antananarivo.
In the 1880s, the bay was coveted by France, which desired it as a coaling station for . After the first Franco-Hova War, Queen Ranavalona III signed a treaty on December 17, 1885, granting France a protectorate over the bay and surrounding territory, as well as the islands of Nosy-Be and Ste. Marie de Madagascar.
The French took possession of their new colony and the Bay of Diego Suarez (also called Bay of Antomboko at that time). It was then called Etablissement français de Diego-Suarez (French Establishment of Diego-Suarez) and was placed under the command of Frigate captain Caillet who is the founder of the city of Diego Suarez.
The first barracks were built at Cap Diego. The first habitants of the new colony were Creole peoples from Réunion & Mauritius, as well as from the French possession of Toamasina, Nosy Be, Ile Sainte-Marie, Mayotte and Mahajanga.
Run away slaves (), Antankarana and Sakalava made up another big part of the population. In 1886, the colony had a population of 2500 habitants.
In 1887, a civil governor, Froger, replaced Caillet. In 1888, the islands of Nosy Be and Ile Sainte-Marie were attached to the colony. Une nouvelle Colonie française est née dans le Nord In 1900, the Decauville railway at Diégo Suarez was built. La Tribune de Diego: Histoire : A toute vapeur dans la campagne : les locos de Diego Suarez The Second Pacific Squadron of Imperial Russia anchored and was resupplied at Diego-Suarez on its way to the Battle of Tsushima in 1905.
On 21 March 1909, the first bricks of the cathedral were laid down. In 1919 there was an epidemics of the Spanish flu followed by an outbreak of the plague in 1920. History of Diego Suarez Still, in 1925 the Province de Diego-Suarez had 13695 habitants.
In 1942, Diego-Suarez was the primary objective of Operation Ironclad, the starting point of the Allied invasion and capture of Madagascar. The Allies were concerned that Japan would pressure Vichy France into granting use of Madagascar, as they had with French Indo-China during the previous year, and determined that the island should not be made a base for the interception of Allied shipping. Diego-Suarez, with its superb harbour and a concentration of government officials, was selected as the initial invasion point. The Japanese responded with an attack by midget submarines on the British naval forces in the harbour, damaging the battleship and sinking the oil tanker British Loyalty.Wilson, Michael; (2000), A Submariners War; Stroud, Tempus.
France continued to operate a military base in the city following Malagasy independence in 1960. Between 1973 and 1975, French forces were withdrawn.
Lycée Français Diego Suarez, or Lycée Français Sadi-Carnot, is a French international school in Antsiranana. Historically it was the Collège français Sadi Carnot." Accueil." Lycée Français Diego Suarez. Retrieved on 7 May 2015." Lycée français Sadi-Carnot." AEFE. Retrieved on May 7, 2015.
Arrachart Airport provides communication primarily with other parts of Madagascar.
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