Ahmed Abdallah

Life prior to the presidency

Abdallah was born in Domoni, on the island of Anjouan. He began participating in the government in the 1940s, while the Comoros were still part of France. He was the President of the general council from 1949 until 1953, and was the chairman of the chamber of deputies during the 1970s.

First presidency

In 1972, Abdallah, now leader of his political party, the Comoros Democratic Union (UDC), became president of the government council and Chief Minister of the Comoros; he served in that position until 6 July 1975, when the islands became independent from France, (with the exception of Mayotte, which voted to remain part of France.) Abdallah became the first president of the independent islands, but was overthrown by Said Mohamed Jaffar in a coup d'état on August 3, 1975. Jaffar, in turn, would be overthrown by Ali Soilih in 1976.

Second presidency

Abdallah (who had been living in exile Paris, France) staged a coup against Soilih in 1978 with the help of mercenary Bob Denard. After Said Atthoumani had served as "Chairman of the Politico-Military Directorate" for ten days, Abdallah and Mohamed Ahmed assumed the titles of "Co-Chairmen of the Politico-Military Directorate." On 22 July, their titles were changed to "Co-Chairmen of the Directorate," and on 3 October, Abdallah became the lone chair.

On 25 October, Abdallah assumed the title of president and remained in office until his death, despite three separate coup attempts against him. In 1982, Abdallah had the UDC and all other parties abolished, and a new party, the Comorian Union for Progress (UCP), was set up. Comoros became a one-party state, with the UCP being the only legal party.

Abdallah was re-elected unopposed in 1984. On 26 November 1989, he was shot dead in his Moroni office during a coup led by Ali Soilih's half-brother, Said Mohamed Djohar. Djohar took control of the country the next day.