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The following day Ibrahim dissolved the "politico-administrative co-ordination" and appointed a temporary government which was charged with preparing a constitution and organizing a presidential election, although it did not receive international recognition. Taki reacted by cutting Nzwani´s telephone lines, suspending air and maritime links and establishing a commission to liaise with opposition leaders prior to the appointment of a government of national unity. However, the opposition refused to participate in such a government before the reconciliation conference had taken place. The conference had been postponed several times, largely owing to disagreements regarding the composition and strength of the delegations. On completion of a five-day mission to the Comoros in mid-November 1997, Yéré revealed that only the list of delegates from Mwali had been submitted, while the secessionist government in Nzwani and the opposition parties remained dissatisfied with the OAU´s proposals. The OAU also announced plans to deploy a force of military observers from Tunisia, Senegal and Niger in the Comoros, despite the separatists´ insistence that the force would not be allowed to land on Nzwani; an initial eight-member contingent, which arrived later that month, was to be increased to 25 and was to receive logistical support from France. Meanwhile, amid reports of dissension within the separatist government on Nzwani, it was reported that Abdou Madi (believed to hold more moderate views than Ibrahim) was in Moroni, having fled Nzwani.
Diplomatic relations between the Comoros and France, suspended in December 1975, were restored in July 1978; in November of that year the two countries signed agreements on military and economic co-operation, apparently deferring any decision on the future of Mayotte. In subsequent years, however, member countries of the UN General Assembly repeatedly voted in favour of a resolution affirming the Comoros´ sovereignty over Mayotte, with only France dissenting. Following Djohar´s accession to power, diplomatic relations were established with the USA in June 1990. In September 1993 the Arab League accepted an application for membership from the Comoros. |
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In late September 1997, despite the misgivings of some members of the "politico-administrative co-ordination",
notably Abdou Madi, Ibrahim announced his decision to hold a referendum on self-determination for Nzwani on 26 October, prior to a reconciliation conference sponsored by both the OAU and the Arab League, which all parties had agreed to attend.
Col. Azali Assoumani, conclued talks with Lt. Col Said Abeid, who heads the separatist island of Anjouan, affirming that dialogue was the only objective and
realistic way to settle the crisis in the achipelago. The talks, held in Moheli island, were the first between the two
since the 29 April 1999 coup d´etat that brought Azali to power.