State of the Comoros

Last updated
State of the Comoros
1975–1978
Anthem:  Ungwana   (Comorian)
Liberty
Comoros (orthographic projection).svg
Location of the Comoros (circled)
Capital Moroni
Official languagesFrench, Comorian, Arabic
Religion
State atheism
Demonym(s) Comorian
Government Unitary Maoist one-party socialist republic under an authoritarian dictatorship
President  
• 1975–1976
Said Mohamed Jaffar
• 1976–1978
Ali Soilih
Vice President  
• 1976–1978
Mohamed Hassanaly
ISO 3166 code KM
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Flag of the Comoros (1963-1975).svg Territory of the Comoros
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros Flag of the Comoros (1978-1992).svg
Today part of Comoros

Socialist Comoros, officially the State of the Comoros, was the Comorian state between 1975 and 1978 under the rule of the Democratic Rally of the Comorian People party. This period began on August 3, 1975, less than a month after Comoros gained independence from France, when Soilih and Said Mohamed Jaffar, whose adherents were barely armed, hired French mercenary Bob Denard to overthrow Ahmed Abdallah. Soilih officially became President of the revolutionary council in January 1976. He acquired extensive powers under the terms of a new constitution [1] and implemented socialist economic policies. This period would formally come to an end when Soilih was ousted and killed in a coup by French mercenaries, which reinstalled the former President Ahmed Abdallah.

Contents

History

Overthrow of Abdallah

On 3 August 1975 the United National Front coalition overthrew the government of Ahmed Abdallah, with the aid of foreign mercenaries [2] led by Bob Denard. [3]

Said Mohamed Jaffar favored a conciliatory approach towards France and the Mayotte issue. On the occasion of the acceptance of the State of Comoros (État comorien) at the United Nations in November 1975 Said Mohamed Jaffar delivered a speech. In January 1976 Jaffar gave up power to radical leftist leader Ali Soilih.

Soilih's dictatorship

After rising to power in 1976, Soilih embarked on a revolutionary program that was mainly directed against the country's traditional and conservative Muslim society. [4] His vision, based on a mixture of Maoism and Islamic philosophies, was to develop the Comoros as an economically self-sufficient and ideologically progressive modern 20th-century state.[ citation needed ]

Condemned as wasteful backwards and cumbersome, certain inherited customs of Comorian culture were abolished, like the 'Anda', the traditional "grand marriage", [5] as well as traditional funerary ceremonies, which were criticized for being too costly. Soilih advanced the cause of the youth by allowing young people to take more power. In order to reach his goal, he lowered the voting age to fourteen and put teenagers in positions of responsibility. Among the most striking of his reforms were measures designed to gain the favor of the youth, like the legalization of cannabis and promoting the removal of the veil among the women of Comoros. [6] Most civil servants were dismissed and there was a ban on some Islamic customs.[ citation needed ] He implemented revolutionary social reforms such as replacing French with Shikomoro, burning down the national archives and nationalizing land.

Logo of the Moissy or "Jeunesse Revolutionnaire". Jeunesse Revolutionnaire Comoros Logo.svg
Logo of the Moissy or "Jeunesse Révolutionnaire".

Soilih created the 'Moissy', a young revolutionary militia trained by Tanzanian military advisers. [4] The Moissy was the Comorian answer to Mao Zedong's Red Guards, and its methods were similar to those that had been employed by their Chinese counterpart during the Cultural Revolution. [7] [8]

Consequences

Soilih's confrontational policies led to France breaking ties and terminating all aid and technical assistance programs to the Comoros, while traditional leaders of the islands resented the progressive elimination of age-old traditions, under Soilih's rule the Comoros became a Pariah state. The teenage Moissy, commanded by a 15-year-old chosen only for his loyalty to the president, behaved with outrageous arrogance, raping any women who resisted their advances and killing anyone who questioned their authority in the slightest. Hence, they were viewed by Comorians as a repressive secret police force. [9] Growing discontent promoted by the political opposition resulted in four unsuccessful coup attempts against the Soilih regime during its two-and-a-half-year existence. [4]

1978 overthrow and killing of Soilih

On 13 May 1978, Bob Denard, once again commissioned by the French intelligence service (SDECE), returned to overthrow Soilih and reinstate Abdallah with the support of the French, Rhodesian and South African governments. [10] [11] Soilih was overthrown by a force of 50 mercenaries, the majority of them former French paratroopers hired by exiled former leader Ahmed Abdallah and led by French Colonel Bob Denard. [12] In mere hours, the well-trained and experienced Frenchmen almost effortlessly annihilated the ragtag Moissy force hundreds strong without a single loss in return. On the night of the coup, Denard kicked the door to Soilih's bedroom only to find him in his bed with three nude teenage schoolgirls, all of them watching a pornographic film while high on marijuana. Denard later recalled in his own words that Soilih was so "stupid" that it took lots of effort before he finally realized his deposition. [13] Abdallah became president ending Soilih's 2 year rule, Soilih's policies were reversed, and the name of the country was changed to "Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros". [14] On May 29, Soilih was shot and killed; according to the government, he had attempted to escape from house arrest. [15] Soilih died at the age of 41 years old.

Foreign policy

Soilih, in addition to implementing radical reforms, established close connections with many of the Cold War states which aided revolutionary movements. Among these were North Korea, which established an embassy in the Comoros within a year. On 18 January 1977, the first ambassador So Jinyong presented his credentials to Vice President Mohamed Hassan Ali, and made a visit to President Soilih.[ citation needed ]

Soilih's Moissy militia and other armed forces received training from the left-wing Tanzanian regime of Julius Nyerere, also received some degree of aid from the North Koreans. [16] On 15 March 1978, the North Korean ambassador presented a gift from Kim Il Sung to President Soilih, in response to which the Comoros expressed its "full support and firm solidarity with the Korean people's struggle" to achieve an independent and peaceful Korean reunification. [17]

Legacy

10 years later, in 1989, Soilih's older half-brother, Said Mohamed Djohar, overthrew Abdallah's Regime, possibly with the help of Denard. He served as president of the Comoros until 1996.

The effects of the social policies of Ali Soilih's Dictatorship are still apparent throughout the Comoros, particularly on Anjouan. [18] [ vague ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comoros</span> African island country in the Indian Ocean

The Comoros, officially the Union of the Comoros, is an archipelagic country made up of three islands in Southeastern Africa, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city is Moroni. The religion of the majority of the population, and the official state religion, is Sunni Islam. Comoros proclaimed its independence from France on 6 July 1975. The Comoros is the only country of the Arab League which is entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a member state of the African Union, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, and the Indian Ocean Commission. The country has three official languages: Shikomori, French and Arabic.

The history of the Comoros extends back to about 800–1000 AD when the archipelago was first inhabited. The Comoros have been inhabited by various groups and sultanates throughout this time. France colonised the islands in the 19th century, and they became independent in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of the Comoros</span>

The Politics of the Union of the Comoros take place in a framework of a unitary presidential republic, whereby the President of the Comoros is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The precolonial legacies of the sultanates linger while the political situation in Comoros has been extremely fluid since the country's independence in 1975, subject to the volatility of coups and political insurrection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Denard</span> French mercenary (1929–2007)

Robert Denard was a French mercenary. He served as the de facto military leader of the Comoros twice with him first serving from 13 May 1978 to 15 December 1989 and again briefly from the 28th of September to the 5th of October in 1995. Sometimes known under the aliases Gilbert Bourgeaud and Saïd Mustapha Mhadjou, he was known for having performed various jobs in support of Françafrique—France's sphere of influence in its former colonies in Africa—for Jacques Foccart, co-ordinator of President Charles de Gaulle's African policy. Many Native Comorians see him as one of the worst examples of Neo Colonial interference in a sovereign independent State, and a war criminal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmed Abdallah</span> President of the Comoros from 1978 to 1989

Ahmed Abdallah Abderemane was a top Comorian politician. He was a member of the French Senate from 1959 to 1973, and President of the Comoros from 25 October 1978 until his assassination in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ali Soilih</span> President of the Comoros from 1976 to 1978

Ali Soilih M'Tsashiwa was a Comorian socialist revolutionary and political figure who served as the 3rd President of the Comoros from 3 January 1976 to 13 May 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in the Comoros</span>

Elections in the Comoros take place within the framework of a multi-party democracy and a presidential system. The President and the majority of the seats in the Assembly of the Union are directly elected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Said Mohamed Djohar</span> President of the Comoros from 1989 to 1995

Said Mohammed Djohar was a Comorian politician who served as the 4th President of the Comoros from 1989 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim</span> President of Comoros from 1996 to 1998

Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim was President of the Comoros from 25 March 1996 until his death on 6 November 1998.

Mohamed Ahmed was a Comorian politician.

Said Atthoumani was a Comorian politician.

Abdallah Mohamed was a Comorian politician. He served as prime minister of Comoros from January 7, 1976, until December 22, 1978. He was a nephew of Mohamed Ahmed. For most of that time he was serving under President Ali Soilih. After Soilih was overthrown and killed in a Coup d'état, Mohamed remained in his post for a few months under the new regime of Ahmed Abdallah. He was eventually dismissed, however. He died in Mutsamudu, on the island of Anjouan in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Said Mohamed Jaffar</span> President of the Comoros from 1975 to 1976

Prince Said Mohamed Jaffar, full name Said Mohamed Jaffar El Amjad, was the 2nd President of Comoros (État comorien) from August 1975 until January 1976, as well as chief minister of the Comoros government from July until December 1972.

The Comorian Union for Progress is a political party in the Comoros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Comoros (1978–1989)</span> Former African country

The Comoros is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa. France first established colonial rule in the Comoros in 1841. Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for the Comoros to become independent in 1978. On July 6, 1975, but the Comorian parliament passed a unilateral resolution declaring independence. The deputies of Mayotte, which remained under French control, abstained. Referendums on all four of the islands excluding Mayotte showed strong support for independence. Ahmed Abdallah proclaimed the Comoros' independence on September 5, 1975 and became its first president.

This page list topics related to Comoros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comoros–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Comoros–North Korea relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Comoros and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. Neither nation maintains an embassy in their respective capitals. Formerly the DPRK had an ambassador stationed in Moroni.

Said Ali Kemal was a Comorian politician. He was the son of Prince Saïd Ibrahim Ben Ali and the grandson of Sultan Said Ali bin Said Omar of Grande Comore.

"Ungwana" ("Liberty"), also known as "Comor Masiwa Mane", was the national anthem of the State of the Comoros from 1975 or 1976 to 1978, when a coup by Ahmed Abdallah and Bob Denard took place, and it was replaced by the current anthem, "Udzima wa ya Masiwa". It was written and composed by Abdérémane Chihabiddine, better known as Abou Chihabi, a musician with the Comorian folk band Folkomor Océan. It was adopted under the Ali Soilih administration following a competition won by Chihabi.

References

  1. ↑ The Europa World Year Book, V1 Taylor & Francis Group
  2. ↑ LOC - Comoros, The Break with France
  3. ↑ BBC - Country profiles; Timeline: Comoros
  4. 1 2 3 "Comoros: Security Concerns". Country Data. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Le Anda, Grand Mariage comorien sous Ali Soilih" on YouTube (in French). YouTube. September 14, 2008.
  6. ↑ French, Howard (1997). "The Mercenary Position" (subscription required). Transition73: 110-121.
  7. ↑ "Comoros: The Soilih Regime". Country Data. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Union of Comoros" Archived 2012-04-03 at the Wayback Machine . Al-Hakawati. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ Hebditch, David & Connor, Ken How to Stage a Military Coup: From Planning to Execution New York, Skyhorse Publishing Inc., page 135.
  10. ↑ Eliphas G. Mukonoweshuro (October 1990). "The Politics of Squalor and Dependency: Chronic Political Instability and Economic Collapse in the Comoro Islands". African Affairs. 89 (357): 555–577. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a098331. JSTOR   722174.
  11. ↑ Moorcraft, Paul L.; McLaughlin, Peter (April 2008) [1982]. The Rhodesian War: A Military History. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. pp. 120–121. ISBN   978-1-84415-694-8.
  12. ↑ Comoros - The Soilih Regime
  13. ↑ Hebditch, David & Connor, Ken How to Stage a Military Coup: From Planning to Execution New York, Skyhorse Publishing Inc., pages 135-136.
  14. ↑ Lehtinen, Terhi. "The Secessionist Crisis in the Comoros Islands" Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine . Conflict Transformation Services. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Ex-Comoro Island Chief Reported Shot to Death While Trying to Escape". The New York Times. May 29, 1978.(subscription required)
  16. ↑ Bunge, Frederica M., ed. (1982). Indian Ocean, five island countries. United States Department of the Army. p. 179.
  17. ↑ Summary of World Broadcasts: Far East, Part 3. London: British Broadcasting Corporation. 1978.
  18. ↑ Rushby, Kevin (October 1, 2001). "Another day, another coup". The Guardian.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.