History of the Comoros (country)

Populated since second half of the first millenium, the various islands of the the Comoros followed a very close history without being for as much common (see Histoire of the Comoros). It is France, colonial power, which links the islands administratively. The history of the islands separates with new after 1976, and the formation of the Islamic Federal republic of the Comoros and the maintenance of Mayotte under French administration . The history of the country is marked by about thirty coups d'etat. The republic, after an economic crisis, then an independence crisis, is reformed and become the Union of the Comoros.

The declaration of independence

After independences of the countries African of the Years 1960, a certain number of intellectuals, large Comorian, for the majority, largely influenced by the ideas zanzibarites, start to claim independence. By mutual agreement, in an objective of independence concerted, France proposes a referendum in 1973. Initially in December 1974, Mayotte is not expressed like the three other islands (with 65% for the maintenance compared with 95% against the maintenance. Several explanations are given to explain this choice:

the fear of Anjouanais to feel marginalized in a political system dominated by Large Comore
fear to see the women's right decreased, episode of the chatouilleuses Mamies
the population is with nearly 50% of Malagasy origin, using the Madagascan like language first, and for this population relatively less Islamized (practical animist sakalave).

France as for it, considers it strategically important to keep foot on one of these islands to control the Canal of Mozambique. A unit of the Foreign legion continues to be stationed there.

In front of the will of France to treat Mayotte in a particular way, independence is declared unilaterally by the Islamic Federal republic of the Comoros , on July 6th, 1975, by the voice of Anjouanais Ahmed Abdallah.

See also: List of the leaders of the Comoros 1946-1975

The Comorian revolution

A few days after independence, on August 3rd 1975, Bob Denard, most surely under the orders of Jacques Foccart, invades the Grande Comore, organizes a coup d'etat with 50 men and place Ali Soilih with the capacity. Ahmed Abdallah is dislodged of the island of Anjouan by a hundred mapinduzi (military militants) framed by mercenaries. It leaves then in exile to France. In February 1976, Mayotte votes again for the maintenance in the French Republic. The three islands are under the responsibility of Ali Soilih, a revolutionist who founds a socialist and independence mode. The relations between the young republic and the old colonial power are tightened quickly.

Towards the end of December 1976, a " pogrom" disputed starts with Majunga and Diego-Suarez, perpetrated by the Betsimisaraka and of the Antandroy, two Malagasy tribes, against all the population of Comorian origin of Madagascar, by identification of their name with Moslem resonance or their frontal blackened by the génuflexion at the time of the prayers. It would have started from a banal disagreement of manners and vicinity. The first evacuations took place at the beginning of January 1977 by boats " Town of Tuliéar" and " Town of Manakara" , finally by the air line Belgian Sabena. These Comorians, very often métissés, installed on the north-western coast of Madagascar since generations, form the fifth cultural group constituting the Comorian population and are called the " Sabénas".

The RFIC

May 3rd 1978, Denard reverses president Ali Soilih and Ahmed Abdallah reaches the capacity on May 21st. Ali Soilih is carried out in his office. Abdallah is accommodated in a triumphal way and proclaims with western journalists jellyfishes: “It is necessary that I remake myself”. He is elected on October 23rd, 1978 chair Islamic Federal republic of the Comoros . He is the only candidate. Denard creates for him the " keep présidentielle" , police force and soldier of almost 600 men including 17 French officers. In 1981, with the election of François Mitterrand, Denard loses the support of the France and creates SOGECOM. In 1982, Abdallah dissolves all the political parties and created the sole party Comorian Union for Progress (Left blue). Little by little, the mode becomes dictatorial, framed by the mercenaries of Denard who control the country and avoid several coup attempts of State. The democratic Front of Moustoifa Sheik however tries to exist. The party will be dismantled, shown subversive activities. Its militants are thrown in prison and are tortured. Re-elected on September 30th 1984 the blue party gains the totality of the seats to the Parliament federal on May 22nd 1987. It opens its country with the foreign investors, especially South-African, in the fields of tourism and fishing, but also of weapon, circumventing the embargoes. In exchange Moroni in particular becomes a base camp for operations against the Mozambique. Maintaining the ambiguous relationship with the mercenaries, at the same time trusty servant and Master, corruption develops in a considerable way.

In 1989, having a presentiment of a new coup d'etat, Abdallah requires of Denard to disarm. Abdallah is killed, in its office by a soldier of the guard. Denard is wounded. Denard, unpopular and suspected of murder in the country, is evacuated a few days later by the troops French parachutists. Said Mohamed Djohar, the half-brother of Soilih becomes president and the remainder until September 28th, 1995, when Denard reverses it. A new guard is created.

October 3rd, takes place the Opération Glycoside. The French authorities deploy 600 men against a force of 33 mercenaries and 300 dissidents. Denard requires of its soldiers not to draw, the following day, they go. Denard is made prisoner and is placed under house arrest in France.

November 27th 1989, Djohar, then president of the Supreme court, becomes President by interim and is then elected on March 11th 1990 President, in elections disputed vis-a-vis Mohamed Taki Abdulkarim. It drives out the mercenaries but is finally reversed by Denard with the support of France and is exiled of force to the Meeting, presented like insane. The interim is exerted by Ibrahim Ahmed Alidi, then it returns to the capacity. The years which follow are remembered by the accounting scandals, and the fall of the economy of the country. The debt grows, the wages are not paid,…

In the night from September 27th to 28th 1995 is held operation '' Azalée '', Denard reverses Said Mohamed Djohar with about thirty unloaded men of Zodiacs. Once the finished mission, this last is then repatriated towards the metropolis by the Service of external documentation and against-espionage, secret service French.

After a short interim, the first free elections are organized and Mohamed Taki Abdulkarim, candidate who seems to have the support of the France, is elected in March 1996. Its presidency is marked by the proclamation of independence made initially by Mohéli, then by Anjouan. Mohéli, whose certain inhabitants had already publicly claimed his fastening in France before proclaiming its independence, again claim it by a great sway in the crowd. This step is followed by Anjouan on August 3rd, 1997, the island densément populated archipelago. The islands were handicapped in the Republic, vis-a-vis the Grande Comore, seat of the capacity.

See also: List of the presidents of the Islamic Federal republic of the Comoros

The independence crisis

** Taki dies in the course of mandate in November 1998. The interim is exerted by Anjouanais Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde. Whereas Large the Comorians and the international community wish a bringing together, the separatists refuse to negotiate. An military intervention fails. The elections cannot take place, the situation seems blocked, the more so as the capacity with Anjouan is not stable. The colonel Azali Assoumani carries out a coup d'etat in April 1999 without violence and seizes the power. Very criticized by the international community in particular under the auspice of the African Union and Thabo Mbeki the South African president joins again the dialog with the idependentist Mohamed Bacar. Colonel Azali initially tries to make apply an agreement concluded to Tananarive on April 23rd, 1999, but the persons in charge of Anjouan refuse it. Anjouanais also massively reject it into an organized consultation on January 23rd, 2000, preferring to show their will to have an independent State. The UA, opposed by principle to all modifications of border, makes issue as sanction, an embargo on the fuels, the foodstuffs, the maritime and air communications like on telecommunications, starting from March 21st, 2000 and for one unlimited duration. The blockade makes the life very difficult to anjouanais which is expatrient then in great number towards Mayotte. August 24th, 2000, Colonel Azali and the lieutenant-colonel Saïd Abeid Abdéramane, person in charge anjouanais pose the principles of a new agreement, it is the “Declaration of Fomboni”. This agreement does not satisfy the U.A. which is opposed.

The country organizes, in accordance with the constitution, of the elections in 2006, the presidency having to return, as the constitution requires it, in Anjouanais. However, Azali claiming sufficiently not to control Anjouan, called upon the international community to organize the elections under acceptable conditions. In spite of irregularities identified with the first turn, these elections are gained by Ahmed Abdallah Sambi (elected with 58% of the voices), a monk sunnite called l'" Ayatollah". Sambi encounters the same difficulties as Azali in the management of the Union.

In 2007, each island must elect its president again. A few weeks before these elections, president d' Anjouan, Mohamed Bakar, is invalidated by the president of the Union of the Comoros, alleging that the validity date of its mandate is exceeded.

Mohamed Bakar enters in secession, and several episodes of reciprocal intimidation lead to a confrontation between the gendarmes of Anjouan and the military forces of the Union of the Comoros. The elections take place in June 2007 in the three islands, without international observers (in particular the UA) being able to control their validity with Anjouan. Mohamed Bakar declares himself re-elected. the tensions between Large the Comoros and Anjouan persist.

See also: List of the presidents of the Union of the Comoros

See too

External bonds

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