What changes did Joseph-Simon Gallieni make during the French colonial period?

During his tenure as governor-general of Madagascar from 1896 to 1905, Joseph-Simon Gallieni implemented significant political, social, and infrastructural changes to consolidate French colonial rule:

• Political Consolidation: Gallieni suppressed armed insurrections, including the Menalamba resistance, and exiled the queen in 1897. He replaced Merina governors with French administrators, though he also utilized local leaders to achieve the unification of the island by 1905.12
• Social Reforms: He formally abolished slavery and made the teaching of the French language compulsory in schools.12
• Infrastructure and Economy: He initiated the construction of the Tamatave-Antananarivo railroad and expanded the road network. Additionally, he inaugurated a modern health service and implemented customs duties that favored French products while still encouraging local Malagasy enterprise.12

Gallieni is often characterized as a paternalistic colonial administrator who sought to integrate the territory into the French empire through a combination of military force and administrative reorganization.3