The French established a settlement in southern Madagascar in 1634 and occupied the islands of Reunion and Rodrigues; in 1715 France claimed Mauritius (Ile de France), and in 1756 Seychelles.
When France ceded Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Seychelles to Britain in 1814, it lost its Indian Ocean ports; Reunion, which remained French, did not offer a suitable natural harbor.
In 1840 France acquired the island of Nosy-Be off the northwestern coast of Madagascar, but its potential as a port was limited.
In 1841 the governor of Reunion, Admiral de Hell, negotiated with Andrian Souli, the Malagasy ruler of Mayotte, to cede Mayotte to France.
Isolated from important trade routes by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, having few natural resources, and largely neglected by France, the islands were poorly equipped for independence. In 1946 the Comoro Islands became an overseas department of France with representation in the French National Assembly.
In the 1880s, Germany's growing influence on the East African coast added to the concerns of the French.
Treaties of protectorate status marked a transition point between independence and annexation; such treaties were signed with the rulers of Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mwali in 1886. The effects of French colonialism were mixed, at best.
Health standards improved with the introduction of modern medicine, and the population increased about 50 percent between 1900 and 1960.
Not until 1908, however, did the four Comoro Islands become part of France's colony of Madagascar and not until 1912 did the last sultan abdicate.
Not until 1908, however, did the four Comoro Islands become part of France's colony of Madagascar and not until 1912 did the last sultan abdicate.
Isolated from important trade routes by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, having few natural resources, and largely neglected by France, the islands were poorly equipped for independence. In 1946 the Comoro Islands became an overseas department of France with representation in the French National Assembly.
The following year, the islands' administrative ties to Madagascar were severed; Comoros established its own customs regime in 1952.
A Governing Council was elected in August 1957 on the four islands in conformity with the loi-cadre (enabling law) of June 23, 1956.
A Governing Council was elected in August 1957 on the four islands in conformity with the loi-cadre (enabling law) of June 23, 1956.
A constitution providing for internal self-government was promulgated in 1961, following a 1958 referendum in which Comorans voted overwhelmingly to remain a part of France.
Health standards improved with the introduction of modern medicine, and the population increased about 50 percent between 1900 and 1960.
A constitution providing for internal self-government was promulgated in 1961, following a 1958 referendum in which Comorans voted overwhelmingly to remain a part of France.
The deputies of Mayotte abstained. In 1961 the Comoros was granted autonomous rule and, in 1975, it broke all ties with France and established itself as an independent republic.
This government consisted of a territorial assembly having, in 1975, thirty-nine members, and a Governing Council of six to nine ministers responsible to it. Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for the Comoros to become independent in 1978.
Abdallah returned to govern the country and the mercenaries were given key positions in government. In two referendums, in December 1974 and February 1976, the population of Mayotte voted against independence from France (by 63.8% and 99.4% respectively).
France colonised the islands in the 19th century, and they became independent in 1975. ==Early inhabitants== The earliest inhabitants of the islands were likely people from the Swahili culture from as early as 1000 BC, small trading communities of Bantu-speakers from the coasts of East Africa. In the 8th to 13th centuries AD they were followed by an influx of Austronesian sailors from Southeast Asia, who had earlier settled nearby Madagascar.
This government consisted of a territorial assembly having, in 1975, thirty-nine members, and a Governing Council of six to nine ministers responsible to it. Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for the Comoros to become independent in 1978.
On July 6, 1975, however, the Comorian parliament passed a resolution declaring unilateral independence.
The deputies of Mayotte abstained. In 1961 the Comoros was granted autonomous rule and, in 1975, it broke all ties with France and established itself as an independent republic.
Abdallah returned to govern the country and the mercenaries were given key positions in government. In two referendums, in December 1974 and February 1976, the population of Mayotte voted against independence from France (by 63.8% and 99.4% respectively).
This government consisted of a territorial assembly having, in 1975, thirty-nine members, and a Governing Council of six to nine ministers responsible to it. Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for the Comoros to become independent in 1978.
A French mercenary by the name of Bob Denard, arrived in the Comoros at dawn on 13 May 1978, and removed Soilih from power.
Mayotte thus remains under French administration, and the Comorian Government has effective control over only Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli. Later, French settlers, French-owned companies, and Arab merchants established a plantation-based economy that now uses about one-third of the land for export crops. ==Abdallah regime== In 1978, president Ali Soilih, who had a firm anti-French line, was killed and Ahmed Abdallah came to power.
France immediately and severely denounced the coup, and backed by the 1978 defense agreement with the Comoros, President Jacques Chirac ordered his special forces to retake the island.
Between 1985 and 1987 the relationship of the PG with the local Comorians became worse. At the end of the 1980s the South Africans did not wish to continue to support the mercenary regime and France was in agreement.
The Comoros were also used for the evasion of arms sanctions. When in 1981 François Mitterrand was elected president Denard lost the support of the French intelligence service, but he managed to strengthen the link between SA and the Comoros.
Between 1985 and 1987 the relationship of the PG with the local Comorians became worse. At the end of the 1980s the South Africans did not wish to continue to support the mercenary regime and France was in agreement.
Between 1985 and 1987 the relationship of the PG with the local Comorians became worse. At the end of the 1980s the South Africans did not wish to continue to support the mercenary regime and France was in agreement.
South Africa and the French government subsequently forced Denard and his mercenaries to leave the islands in 1989. ==1989-1996== Said Mohamed Djohar became president.
Grande Comore had experienced troubles of its own in the late 1990s, when President Taki died on November 6, 1998.
His time in office was turbulent, including an impeachment attempt in 1991 and a coup attempt in 1992. On September 28, 1995 Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries took over the Comoros islands in a coup (named operation Kaskari by the mercenaries) against President Djohar.
His time in office was turbulent, including an impeachment attempt in 1991 and a coup attempt in 1992. On September 28, 1995 Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries took over the Comoros islands in a coup (named operation Kaskari by the mercenaries) against President Djohar.
Historical dictionary of the Comoro Islands (Scarecrow Press, 1994). Walker, Iain.
His time in office was turbulent, including an impeachment attempt in 1991 and a coup attempt in 1992. On September 28, 1995 Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries took over the Comoros islands in a coup (named operation Kaskari by the mercenaries) against President Djohar.
Strong points armed with heavy machine guns were set up around the island, particularly around the island's two airports. On October 3, 1995, 11 p.m., the French deployed 600 men against a force of 33 mercenaries and a 300-man dissident force.
In March 1996, following presidential elections, Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim, a member of the civilian government that Denard had tried to set up in October 1995, became president.
Prime minister Caambi El-Yachourtu became acting president until Djohar returned from exile in January, 1996.
In March 1996, following presidential elections, Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim, a member of the civilian government that Denard had tried to set up in October 1995, became president.
On 23 November 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 crashed near a beach on the island after it was hijacked and ran out of fuel killing 125 people and leaving 50 survivors. ==Secession of Anjouan and Mohéli== In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli declared their independence from the Comoros.
On 23 November 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 crashed near a beach on the island after it was hijacked and ran out of fuel killing 125 people and leaving 50 survivors. ==Secession of Anjouan and Mohéli== In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli declared their independence from the Comoros.
According to some sources, Mohéli did return to government control in 1998.
Grande Comore had experienced troubles of its own in the late 1990s, when President Taki died on November 6, 1998.
In 1999, Anjouan had internal conflicts and on August 1 of that year, the 80-year-old first president Foundi Abdallah Ibrahim resigned, transferring power to a national coordinator, Said Abeid.
Colonel Azali Assoumani became president following a military coup in 1999.
He has been quoted as stating that the Comoros is not ready to become an Islamic state, nor shall the veil be forced upon any women in the Comoros. ==2007-2008 Anjouan crisis== == Azali Assoumani in power since 2016 == Azali Assoumani is a former army officer, first came to power in a coup in 1999.
The government was overthrown in a coup by army and navy officers on August 9, 2001.
Presidential elections were held for all of the Comoros in 2002, and presidents have been chosen for all three islands as well, which have become a confederation.
There have been several coup attempts since, but he gained firm control of the country after stepping down temporarily and winning a presidential election in 2002. In May 2006, Ahmed Abdallah Sambi was elected from the island of Anjouan to be the president of the Union of the Comoros.
Then he won presidency in 2002 election, having power until 2006.
There have been several coup attempts since, but he gained firm control of the country after stepping down temporarily and winning a presidential election in 2002. In May 2006, Ahmed Abdallah Sambi was elected from the island of Anjouan to be the president of the Union of the Comoros.
Then he won presidency in 2002 election, having power until 2006.
He has been quoted as stating that the Comoros is not ready to become an Islamic state, nor shall the veil be forced upon any women in the Comoros. ==2007-2008 Anjouan crisis== == Azali Assoumani in power since 2016 == Azali Assoumani is a former army officer, first came to power in a coup in 1999.
After ten years, he was elected again in 2016 election.
In March 2019, he was re-elected in the elections opposition claimed to be full of irregularities. Before the 2019 presidential election president Azali Assoumani had arrenged a constututional referendum in 2018 that approved extending the presidential mandate from one five-year term to two.
In March 2019, he was re-elected in the elections opposition claimed to be full of irregularities. Before the 2019 presidential election president Azali Assoumani had arrenged a constututional referendum in 2018 that approved extending the presidential mandate from one five-year term to two.
Islands in a Cosmopolitan Sea: A History of the Comoros (Oxford University Press, 2019) online review. Wright, Henry T., et al.
The oposition had boycotted the referendum. In January 2020, his party The Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) won 17 out of 24 parliamentary seats in the parliamentary election, meaning president Azali had a very tight hold on power.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05