In all, they are claiming three skulls belonging to the Sakalaves, an ethnic group living on the west and northwest regions of the island.
The skulls are now kept at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris, along with several hundred human remains from Madagascar.
France’s ambassador stated that he was “aware of the importance” of this request, before reaffirming that the future of relations between the two countries “can only be founded if we are aware of our shared past”.
The French embassy in Madagascar confirmed that the letter, hand-delivered and signed by the Madagascan Culture Minister, Augustin Andriamananoro, was forwarded on the same day to his French counterpart, Rachida Dati.
A joint Franco-Malagasy commission is expected to rule soon on the return of the skull of King Toera along with the two other skulls.
The French law on the restitution of human remains belonging to public collections was enacted on 26 December.
