How did Jean Ralaimongo's campaign for French citizenship lead toward Malagasy nationalism?

In 1920, the teacher Jean Ralaimongo initiated a press campaign advocating for the Malagasy people to be granted French citizenship and for Madagascar to be integrated as a French département. This effort was rooted in a desire for assimilation, seeking equal status for Malagasy "subjects" within the French colonial system.12

However, when the French government failed to respond to these demands for equality and integration, the movement shifted its focus. The rejection of this assimilationist path served as a catalyst, causing the campaign to pivot toward Malagasy nationalism, ultimately laying the groundwork for the broader struggle for independence.12