independence referendum An independence referendum is a type of referendum in which the residents of a territory decide whether the territory should become an Independence, independent sovereign state. An independence referendum that results in a vote for independence ...

was held on

Anjouan Anjouan (; also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani, and historically as Johanna or Hinzuan) is an autonomous high island in the Indian Ocean that forms part of the Union of the Comoros. Its chief town is Mutsamudu and, , its population is around 277,500. ...

, an island in the

Comoros The Comoros,, ' officially the Union of the Comoros,; ar, الاتحاد القمري ' is an independent country made up of three islands in southeastern Africa, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. It ...

, on 26 October 1997. Over 99% of voters voted in favour of independence. However, the vote was not recognised and the island returned to the control of the Comorian government in 2001.

Background

In July 1997 opposition parties were banned and Anjouan separatist leader

Abdallah Ibrahim Abdallah Ibrahim (; 24 August 1918, in Tameslouht– 11 September 2005, in Casablanca) was a Moroccan politician and a figure of the national movement and was the left-wing Prime Minister of Morocco between December 16, 1958, and May 20, 1960. He ...

was arrested. His arrest led to rioting in

Mutsamudu Mutsamudu is the second-largest city in the Comoros. It is also the capital and largest city on the island of Anjouan as well the former home of former Comorian president Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi. It now houses a deep water port, an ancient c ...

, the capital of Anjouan.Tom Lansford (2015) ''Political Handbook of the World 2015'', CQ Press Following the riots, militants from the

Anjouan People's Movement Anjouan (; also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani, and historically as Johanna or Hinzuan) is an autonomous high island in the Indian Ocean that forms part of the Union of the Comoros. Its chief town is Mutsamudu and, , its population is around 277,500. ...

took over the island, and declared independence on 3 August 1997. Ibrahim was released from prison and named President. At the same time, the island of

Mohéli Mohéli , also known as Mwali, is an autonomous island that forms part of the Comoros, Union of the Comoros. It is the smallest of the three major islands in the country. It is located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa and it is the sma ...

also declared independence. On 3 October the Comorian army attempted to invade the island, but were repulsed by local troops. A referendum was subsequently called by Ibrahim despite opposition from the

Organisation for African Unity The Organisation of African Unity (OAU; french: Organisation de l'unité africaine, OUA) was an intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 32 signatory governments. One of the main heads for OAU's ...

and the

Arab League The Arab League ( ar, الجامعة العربية, ' ), formally the League of Arab States ( ar, جامعة الدول العربية, '), is a regional organization in the Arab world, which is located in Northern Africa, Western Africa, E ...

.COMORO ISLANDS: Anjouan Leader Plans Referendum On Secession
IPS, 13 October 1997

Results

Aftermath

Following the referendum, Ibrahim was appointed head of a provision government of island, now renamed Nzwani. In mid-November he agreed to attend peace talks with Comorian president

Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim ( ar, محمد تقي عبد الكريم 20 February 1936 – 6 November 1998) was President of the Comoros from 25 March 1996 until his death on 6 November 1998. Life He was born in Mbeni, Grande Comore and issued fa ...

. After the talks fell through, Anjouan voters subsequently approved a draft constitution in a

referendum A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

in February 1998. Following another failed attempt to reach agreement in 1999, agreement was reached between the Comorian government and the Anjouan separatists in 2001 to progress with a national referendum on a new federal constitution. This was approved by 76% of voters nationally, and 95% of voters on Anjouan.Elections in the Comoros
African Elections Database

References

{{Comorian elections

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of t ...

Anjouan

1997 in the Comoros