Comoros - History Formerly attached to Madagascar, the Comoros became a separate French Overseas Territory in 1947. The islands achieved internal self-government in December 1961, with a Chamber of Deputies and a Government Council responsible for local administration. Elections in December 1972 resulted in a large majority for parties advocating independence, and Ahmed Abdallah became President of the Government Council. In June 1973 he was restyled President of the Government. At a referendum in December 1974 96% of the voters expressed support for independence, despite the opposition of the Mayotte Party, which sought the status of a French Department for the island of Mayotte. On 3 August 1997 the "political directorate" unilaterally declared Nzwani´s secession from the Comoros, despite an earlier proposal made by Taki to decentralize power and give increased autonomy to the islands. The separatists subsequently elected Ibrahim as president of a 13-member "politico-administrative co-ordination" which included Abdou Madi, a former Prime Minister during Djohar´s presidency, as spokesperson. The declaration of independence was condemned by Djoussouf who appealed for French mediation in the crisis. France, however, while denoucing the secession, declared itself in favour of the intervention of the OAU. The OAU responded by sending a special envoy, Pierre Yéré (Cote d´Ivoire´s ambassador to Ethiopia and the OAU), to the Comoros. Meanwhile, separatist: movements on Mwali held demonstrations, erecting barricades and raising the French flag. Separatist activity intensified, and on 11 August secessionists declared Mwali´s independence from the Comoros, appointed a president and a prime minister to head a 12-member government, and called for reattachment to France.