The last executions in Madagascar were carried out under French colonial rule in 1958.

Several offences are capital crimes under the Penal Code. However, no executions had been carried out in Madagascar since independence in 1960, as the death penalty was substituted with other forms of punishments. The last executions were carried out under French colonial rule in 1958.  
Andry Rajoelina became President of Madagascar in March 2009, after the twice-elected President, Marc Ravalomanana, transferred his power to a military council and fled into exile. On 21 March 2009, Andry Rajoelina was officially declared the President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar. However, for the international community, Rajoelina’s legitimacy was conditional to free and fair elections to be organized shortly.
On 24 September 2012, on the sidelines of the ongoing 67^th UN General Assembly in New York, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), concerning the abolition of the death penalty. Government officials, including Justice Minister Christine Razanamahasoa and Foreign Affairs Minister Pierrot Jocelyn Rajaonarivelo, witnessed the signing ceremony.
On 20 December 2012, Madagascar co-sponsored and voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium on the use of death penalty at the UN General Assembly.