History of the Comoros (1978–89)
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.
1978 Comorian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in the Comoros on 22 October 1978 following the approval of a new constitution in a referendum earlier in the month. The only candidate was Ahmed Abdallah, who had been President at the time of independence, before being ousted in a coup on 2 August 1975, then reinstated following another on 13 May 1978, since which he had held the post of "Co-Chairman of the Politico-Military Directorate of the Federal and Islamic Republic of Comoros" alongside Mohamed Ahmed. He was elected unopposed.