History of Comorian independence

History: Comoros

From the UN's 1974 call to preserve the archipelago's unity through the December 1974 referendum, the July 1975 declaration of independence, and UN admission.

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Published

24 September 2026

Status verified as of

18 September 2026

The UN's position and the 1974 referendum

Ahead of a planned referendum on independence, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 3291 (XXIX) on 13 December 1974, reaffirming the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoro Archipelago and recording France's own commitment, stated on 26 August 1974, that the consultation would be organised on an "archipelago-wide" basis.[1]

13 December 1974 · Declaration

UN General Assembly resolution on the Comoro Archipelago, 1974

Before the December 1974 referendum, the UN General Assembly reaffirmed the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoro Archipelago and recorded France's commitment that the vote would be organised on an "archipelago-wide" basis.

The referendum was held on 22 December 1974. The archipelago-wide result was 94.57% for independence, but the islands' results diverged sharply: Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli each voted over 99% in favour, while a majority on Mayotte (63.22%) voted against.[2]

22 December 1974 · Referendum or popular consultation

Comorian independence referendum, 1974

Voters in the Comoro Archipelago voted on independence on 22 December 1974; the archipelago-wide result was 94.57% in favour, but a majority on the island of Mayotte voted against, which France later cited to retain Mayotte as a French territory.

Unilateral declaration and UN admission

On 6 July 1975 the Comorian Chamber of Deputies unilaterally declared independence for Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli; Mayotte's deputies abstained and the island remained under French administration.[3]

6 July 1975 · Declaration

Comorian Chamber of Deputies declares independence, 1975

The Chamber of Deputies of the Comoro Archipelago unilaterally declared the independence of the islands of Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli on 6 July 1975; Mayotte's deputies abstained and the island remained under French administration.

The Security Council recommended the Comoros' UN membership on 17 October 1975, in a vote France did not take part in, and the General Assembly admitted the Comoros on 12 November 1975 while explicitly reaffirming the archipelago's unity as including Mayotte.[4][5]

12 November 1975 · Recognition

Admission of the Comoros to the United Nations, 1975

Following the Security Council's recommendation, adopted without France taking part in the vote, the General Assembly admitted the Comoros to UN membership while reaffirming that the archipelago, including Mayotte, formed a single territory.

The 1975 coup against President Abdallah

Just 27 days after independence, on 3 August 1975, President Ahmed Abdallah was overthrown when French mercenary Bob Denard arrived with a small group of mercenaries, acting for Comorian politicians Said Mohamed Jaffar and Ali Soilih. Jaffar governed until January 1976, when he ceded power to Soilih; this was the first of several coups, several involving Denard, in the Comoros' early post-independence politics, including Abdallah's own return to power with Denard's help in 1978.[6]

3 August 1975 · Declaration

Coup against President Ahmed Abdallah, 1975

President Ahmed Abdallah was overthrown on 3 August 1975, just 27 days after independence, by French mercenary Bob Denard acting for Comorian politicians Said Mohamed Jaffar and Ali Soilih.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

Claim: On 13 December 1974 the General Assembly adopted resolution 3291 (XXIX), reaffirming "the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoro Archipelago," noting France's statement of 26 August 1974 that the planned popular consultation on independence (then scheduled for 22 December 1974) would be organised on an "archipelago-wide" basis, and requesting France, as administering power, "to ensure that the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoro Archipelago are preserved."

United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 3291 (XXIX): Question of the Comoro Archipelago (United Nations, 13 December 1974) link, preamble and operative paras. 3, 5. Source record

Claim: A referendum on independence for the Comoro Archipelago was held on 22 December 1974; of 163,167 total votes cast, 163,037 were valid, and 94.57% of the archipelago-wide vote favoured independence. Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli each voted over 99% in favour, while a majority on Mayotte, 63.22%, voted against.

Nohlen, Dieter; Krennerich, Michael and Thibaut, Bernhard, Elections in Africa: A Data Handbook (Oxford University Press, 1999) , Comoros chapter, election results table. Source record

Claim: On 6 July 1975 the Chamber of Deputies of the Comoro Archipelago unilaterally declared independence for the islands of Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli; the deputies representing Mayotte abstained, and Mayotte remained under French administration.

Shillington, Kevin, Encyclopedia of African History (Fitzroy Dearborn, 2005) , Comoros entry. Source record

Claim: On 17 October 1975 the Security Council, having examined the Comoros' application for UN membership, recommended to the General Assembly that the Comoros be admitted, by 14 votes to none; France did not participate in the vote.

United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 376 (1975) (United Nations, 17 October 1975) link, resolution text and voting record. Source record

Claim: The UN General Assembly decided to admit the Comoros to membership in the United Nations at its 2402nd plenary meeting on 12 November 1975, following the Security Council's recommendation of 17 October 1975, "reaffirming the necessity of respecting the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoro Archipelago, composed of the islands of Anjouan, Grande-Comore, Mayotte and Moheli."

United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 3385 (XXX): Admission of the Comoros to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 12 November 1975) link, preamble and operative paragraph. Source record

Claim: President Ahmed Abdallah was overthrown on 3 August 1975, 27 days after independence, when French mercenary Bob Denard arrived with a small group of mercenaries and removed him from power, acting for Comorian politicians Said Mohamed Jaffar and Ali Soilih; Jaffar governed until January 1976, when he ceded power to Soilih.

Ahmed Abdallah (Wikipedia) link, Presidency and overthrow section. Source record