Establishment In June 1843,
Mayotte became the first of the
Comoro Islands to become a
French colony. In the 1880s and 1890s, the three other islands -
Grande Comore,
Anjouan and
Mohéli - became French protectorates in 1886, 1887 and 1892, respectively In 1912, these three islands became colonies as well. Between 1912 and 1946, all four islands were governed with Madagascar as the
Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies. In 1946, the Comoros archipelago became a
French overseas territory with its capital in
Dzaoudzi, Mayotte. The Territorial Assembly of the Comoros was founded, with representatives from all four islands. In 1958, a referendum was held in which Comorians overwhelmingly voted in favour of remaining part of France. Following this referendum, a constitution providing for self-government was promulgated. In the 1960s, politics in the territory were largely dominated by descendants of the ruling families of the precolonial sultanate. This group was conservative and pro-French. In this period, two main
political parties emerged - the Parti Vert (Green Party), later known as the Comoros Democratic Union, and the Parti Blanc (White Party), later known as the Democratic Assembly of the Comorian People. Dr.
Said Mohamed Cheikh, president of the Parti Vert and of the Governing Council, was, until his death in 1970, the most important political leader in the islands. The Parti Blanc, under Prince
Said Ibrahim, was in the opposition, supported progressive policies including
land reform and weakening foreign monopoly on Comorian cash crops.
Independence movement In 1962, Comorian expatriates in
Tanzania established the National Liberation Movement of Comoros (Mouvement de la Libération Nationale des Comores - MOLINACO). Molinaco actively promoted Comorian independence abroad, especially in the
Organization of African Unity (OAU). An increasing number of Comorians, particularly younger ones, resentful about perceived French neglect of the islands, began to support independence. The ruling elite, although pro-French, began to view independence as a "regrettable necessity". In 1972, leaders of the Parti Vert and the Parti Blanc agreed to push for independence, while aspiring to maintain good relations with France.
1974 Referendum An independence referendum was held on December 22, 1974 in the four islands. Three of the islands voted for independence, but Mayotte chose to remain as a French department:
Independence In spite of a 1973 agreement with France that independence would be granted in 1973, the Comorian parliament passed a resolution on July 6, 1975 declaring unilateral independence. The deputies of
Mayotte abstained from the vote. The French government recognised the independence of
Grande Comore,
Anjouan and
Mohéli on 31 December 1975, but did not mention Mayotte.
A referendum was subsequently held in Mayotte in February 1976 on remaining part of the Comoros. The proposal was rejected by over 99% of voters, with voter turnout at 83.34%. == Economy ==