History of Tanna separatist episodes

Sources for this page

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

1. 1.

   Claim: A "Tafea Nation" secession attempt, named from the initials of the islands of Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Erromango and Aneityum, was first declared on 1 January 1980; John Frum-movement followers subsequently made a separate declaration of "Tafea" independence on 15 February 1980, drawing on an earlier 1979 alliance between the Tannese kastom group Kapiel, John Frum followers, the Santo-based Nagriamel secessionist movement, and the Modérés political party — a wholly distinct episode from the Espiritu Santo/"Vemerana" secession.

   • John Frum (Wikipedia) link, Tafea Nation declarations and 1979 alliance section. Source record
2. 2.

   Claim: British forces intervened against the Tafea secessionist movement on 26 May 1980; on 10 June 1980, Alexis Yolou convened a meeting of supporters at Sulphur Bay and marched on Isangel to try to free imprisoned breakaway-state supporters, and a firefight broke out in which Yolou was shot twice and found dead the following morning. Tanna, like the rest of the country, became part of the newly independent Vanuatu on 30 July 1980.

   • John Frum (Wikipedia) link, British intervention and outcome section. Source record
   • Alexis Yolou (Wikipedia) link, Yolou's death section. Source record