Comoros Marks 50 Years of Independence While Territorial Dispute over Mayotte Persists

Edited By: Tendai Zola

The Union of the Comoros celebrated on Sunday the 50th anniversary of its independence from France. The occasion, however, remains overshadowed by a longstanding territorial dispute with Paris over the island of Mayotte — a former part of the Comorian archipelago that chose to remain under French administration following a 1974 referendum.

Comorian authorities have continuously affirmed their sovereignty over Mayotte, insisting on the island’s historical, cultural, and geographic ties to the rest of the archipelago. Despite United Nations resolutions supporting the Comorian position, Mayotte was integrated into the French Republic as its 101st department after a 2009 local referendum. Successive Comorian administrations have called for renewed dialogue, emphasizing the principle of territorial integrity, although some voices argue that Moroni has taken an overly conciliatory stance toward France.

While the African Union and the United Nations still recognize Mayotte as part of the Comoros, the issue has largely disappeared from global diplomatic priorities. As the nation commemorates its five decades of sovereignty, many Comorians view independence as incomplete without the full reintegration of Mayotte — a lingering chapter in the country’s post-colonial journey.