Introduction Mayotte Is an Overseas Department of France Within the Comorian Islands

Helsinki International Model United Nations 2015 | XV Annual Session

Forum: General Assembly 3 Issue: Question of Comorian Island of Mayotte Student Officer: Ms. Min Kyung Jin Position: Deputy Chair of the 3rd Committee

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Introduction Mayotte is an overseas department of France within the Comorian Islands. It is one of the four islands representing the Comorian Islands. It is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeast Africa, namely between northwestern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique. 1 Mayotte has been a French territory since 1843. After the Comoros independence referendum in 1974, Mayotte’s residents decided to retain their relation with France even though all the other islands in Comoros voted for independence. The Comoros government, which represents the Comorian archipelago (four islands), 2 continues to claim sovereignty over Mayotte; this has been a problem since Mayotte is officially recognized as France’s territorial community. 3 Thus, this aroused international tension as French and Comoros governments both claim sovereignty over Mayotte. The question of the Comorian Island of Mayotte was often debated in United Nations General Assembly up to 1995. Since 1995, it has not been discussed4.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayotte

2 http://www.beit-salam.km/ (Comorian Islands Official Website)

3 http://www.france.fr/en/regions-and-cities/mayotte-preserved-archipelago.html

4 http://research.un.org/en/docs/ga/quick/regular/50

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Definition of Key terms

In order to fully understand the question at hand in its context we must clarify the following terms: Overseas department (DOM): Departments of France that are outside metropolitan France. Only territories of France are called an ‘overseas department’. 5They have the same political status as the metropolitan departments. Comoros government: Government representing the Comorian Islands. Mayotte: An archipelago that is a hybrid of Africa, the East and the West, Mayotte became a French colony in 1841, then an Overseas Territory in 1946. In 2011, its 180,000 inhabitants chose by referendum to become the 101st French and 5th overseas département.6 Archipelago: A group of islands. Mahorans: Residents of Mayotte Referendum: Submission of an issue of public importance to the direct vote of the electorate, thus, a vote conducted to determine people’s views. 7

Background In 1843, Mayotte was colonized by France and in 1886 the whole Comorian archipelago became France’s protectorate. Since then, the Comoros had protested for their independence. In 1947, Comoros became an overseas territory of France and were given representation in the French parliament, and in 1961, they were given autonomy. The Comoros still continued their resistance for their sovereignty. As a result of their continuous contention and international recognition over the dignity of Occident nation’s colonies, an independence referendum was held in the Comoros, in December 19748. (The Comorian archipelago is composed of four islands; Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mayotte and Mohéli9.) Three out of four (….) Comorian islands had overall results of more than 99% for the independence, whereas only 36% of residents in Mayotte were against it, willing to maintain the association with

5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_department

6 http://www.france.fr/en/regions-and-cities/mayotte-preserved-archipelago.html

7 http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/referendum?searchDictCode=all

8 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13229685

9 http://www.beit-salam.km/

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France’s government.

For Against Invalid Total Registered Voter Island votes votes voters Turnout % Votes % Votes %

Anjouan 58,897 99.93 44 0.07 4 58,945 61,406 95.99

Grande Comore 84,123 99.98 21 0.02 39 84,183 89,215 94.36

Mayotte 5,110 36.78 8,783 63.22 84 13,977 17,946 77.88

Mohéli 6,054 99.92 5 0.08 3 6,062 6,351 95.45

Total 154,184 94.57 8,853 5.43 130 163,167 174,918 93.28

Source: African Elections Database10

President Ahmed Abdallah proclaimed that independence would be declared in agreement with the French government. Thus, France granted independence to the Comorian archipelago excluding Mayotte so that the Comorian island of Mayotte remained having a government dependent to French policies. However, what the Comoros claim is that the 1974 referendum was an archipelago-wide vote, not an island-by-island decision11. In July 1975, Comoros unilaterally declared independence. A referendum was subsequently held in Mayotte in February 1976 on remaining part of the Comoros, but 99% of the voters rejected that proposal. 12 The conflicts over the Comorian island of Mayotte have been addressed in several of the

10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comorian_independence_referendum,_1974

11 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comorian_independence_referendum,_1974

12 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahoran_Comoros_referendum,_1976

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United Nations’ conferences, 13 the first of which was held in 1976. The United Nations Security Council also intended to pass a resolution recognizing Comorian sovereignty over Mayotte, supported by 11 of the 15 members of the council, but it was vetoed by France alone. As time passed, the UN General Assembly has adopted a series of resolutions on the issues with the title ‘Question of the Comorian Island of Mayotte’ up to 1995. Since 1995, the subject of Mayotte has not been discussed by the General Assembly. 1415 Mayotte became an overseas department of France in March 2011 in consequences of a 29th March 2009 referendum.16

Mahoran status referendum, 2009

Choice Votes %

Yes 41,492 95.22

No 2,084 4.78

Valid votes 43,576 99.14

Invalid or blank votes 380 0.86

Total votes 43,956 100.00

Source: malango.fr

The ‘yes’ option had approximately 95.2% of approval (it was to change the island’s status from ‘overseas community’ to ‘overseas department.) Consequently, Mayotte became France’s 101st department; gradually, it is changing its local judicial, economic and social laws

13 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/31/4

14 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/49/18 (latest UN resolution)

15 http://research.un.org/en/docs/ga/quick/regular/49 (49th session)

16 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahoran_status_referendum,_2009

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conforming to French policies. Today, the population of Mayotte is approximately 212,65017. 95% of Mahorans are Sunni Muslims (in the referendum, the Islamic imams and religious leaders were against the dependency to France). After the referendum and Comoros’ gain of independence, the Comoros islands became impoverished. The continued political union with France has allowed Mayotte to remain relatively prosperous in its economic situation that is much better than that of the independent Comoros. As a result, Mayotte had innumerous illegal immigrants from other Comorian Islands, gradually becoming one third of total Mayotte population. 18The Comoros, which have suffered from economic and political instability since their independence, continue to claim Mayotte as part of their territory.

Relevant parties and member states France is one of the member states that has the ‘veto power’ in Security Council. It vetoed the Security Council draft resolution of 1976 recognizing Comoros sovereignty over Mayotte. It had Mayotte as its protectorate in 1943, and gave independence to Comoros in 1975. It now has Mayotte as its overseas department. It gives template policies to help the government of Mayotte establish new laws according to French policies, and provides some economic aid. Mayotte is an overseas department of France, and retained its dependency to France when it had a referendum. It aims to further develop its connection with France. Today, it has more than one third of its population from other islands because of illegal immigrants. Comoros archipelago is the group of islands that Mayotte is a part of. It claims Mayotte is a part of its territory. The archipelago has experienced an impoverishment since its independence. The Comoros government continuously claims sovereignty over the island of Mayotte. Initiative Development (ID): is the only western NGO operating in Anjouan (since 1996) and Mohéli (since 2006), underprivileged islands in the Comoros archipelago since 1996 which act as uncompensated reservoirs for candidates for immigration to Mayotte19 UNDP (United Nations Development Program): UNDP is one of United Nation organizations that has targets for reducing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women by 2015.20 It aims to reduce impoverishment in Comorian Islands Organization of African Unity (OAU): The OAU aims to promote the unity and solidarity of the African states. It also defends the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of African states. The OAU cooperates with Comoros government and rejects French control

17 http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/document.asp?ref_id=19214

18 http://www.km.undp.org/

19 http://www.id-ong.org/en/comoros

20 http://www.globalhand.org/en/organisations/24123 http://www.km.undp.org/

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over Comorian island of Mayotte. 21

Timeline

Year Event 1843 France colonizes the Comorian Island of Mayotte. 1886 The Comorian archipelago becomes France’s protectorate. 1947 Comoros become an overseas territory of France and are given representation in the French parliament. 1961 Comoros are given autonomy. 1974 Three of the islands making up the Comoros vote for independence, but the fourth island, Mayotte, votes to stay with France. 1975 Comoros unilaterally declares independence, with Ahmed Abdallah as president. 1976 A referendum subsequently held in Mayotte about remaining part of the Comoros - 99% rejects. 1976 United Nations Security Council resolution recognizing Comorian sovereignty over Mayotte, supported by 11 of the 15 members of the council, but vetoed by France. 2009 Referendum about changing Mayotte’s status from France’s overseas community to overseas department. The island of Mayotte votes to fully integrate with France. The Comoros government, which lays claim to the island, terms the referendum null and void. 2011 Referendum result adopted. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-1323175822

UN Resolutions 23 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/31/4 -A/RES/31/4 Question of Comorian island of Mayotte, 21st October 1976 -Key Point: Rejects the referendum of 1976 and urges France to negotiate with the Comoros government on implementing the referendum. http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/32/7 -A/RES/32/7 Question of Comorian island of Mayotte, 1st November 1977 -Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1976, requests the Secretary-General of the

21 http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/Multilateral/africa/oau.htm

22 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13231758

23 http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/

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UN to contact the Organization of African Unity. http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/34/69 -A/RES/34/69 Question of Comorian island of Mayotte, 6th December 1979 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1976, recognizes the sovereignty of Comoros government over Mayotte. http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/35/43 -A/RES/35/43 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 28th November 1980 -Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1979, encourages the Organization of African Unity to discuss with the Comorian government. http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/36/105 -A/RES/36/105 Question of the Comorian island Mayotte, 10th December 1981 -Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1979, urges the government of France to honor the prior referendum of 1974 concerning the independence of Comoros. http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/37/65 -A/RES/37/65 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 3rd December 1982 -Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1981, encourages France to see a just solution for the question of Mayotte adopted as soon as possible. http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/38/13 -A/RES/38/13 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 21th November 1983 -Key Point: Same with the resolution of 1982 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/39/48 -A/RES/39/48 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 11th December 1984 -Key Point: Same with the resolution of 1982 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/40/62 -A/RES/40/62 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 9th December 1985 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1982, requests the Secretary-General to report on the question of Mayotte at its forty-first session. http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/41/30 -A/RES/41/30 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 3rd November 1986 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/42/17 -A/RES/42/17 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 11th November 1987

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- Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/43/14 -A/RES/43/14 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 26th October 1988 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/44/9 -A/RES/44/9 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 18th October 1989 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/45/11 -A/RES/45/11 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 1st November 1990 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/46/9 -A/RES/46/9 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 16th October 1991 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/47/9 -A/RES/47/9 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 27th October 1992 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/48/56 -A/RES/48/56 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 13th December 1993 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/49/18 -A/RES/49/18 Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, 28th November 1994 - Key Point: Basically same with the resolution of 1985

Bibliography and Sources http://www.beit-salam.km/ (Comorian Islands Official Website) http://www.france.fr/en/regions-and-cities/mayotte-preserved-archipelago.html(French government official Website) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13229685 Research Report | Page 8 of 10

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http://www.un.org/depts/los/general_assembly/documents/a_res_37_66.pdf https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cn.html (CIA world country factbook) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayotte http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/ (UN documentation official site) http://unjobs.org/topics/geographical-descriptors/africa/comorian-island-of-mayotte http://research.un.org/en/docs/ga/quick/regular/50 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_department http://www.id-ong.org/en/comoros http://www.globalhand.org/en/organisations/24123 http://www.km.undp.org/ http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/Multilateral/africa/oau.htm http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/referendum?searchDictCode=all http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comorian_independence_referendum,_1974 http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/document.asp?ref_id=19214 http://www.km.undp.org/ http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/49/18 http://research.un.org/en/docs/ga/quick/regular/49 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahoran_status_referendum,_2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahoran_Comoros_referendum,_1976 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/31/4 https://books.google.ru/books?id=MLAxV20gktQC&pg=PA198&lpg=PA198&dq=Mayotte+dis pute&source=bl&ots=E2cEp0_OG1&sig=_sYo5W- 1HwmdoGvkrVuQtD7Dnhg&hl=ko&sa=X&ei=drGRVPGCLaS9ygOOnIKgDw&ved=0CCkQ6 AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Mayotte%20dispute&f=false http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahoran_status_referendum,_2009 http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/resolutions/48/56GA1993.html http://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNGARsn/1980/50.pdf https://books.google.ru/books?id=z5Le627xQLgC&pg=PA176&lpg=PA176&dq=Mayotte+dis pute&source=bl&ots=7waB209yWM&sig=ZbHbW5KLI1WDEUuqsIvmuIgfXTo&hl=ko&sa=X& ei=drGRVPGCLaS9ygOOnIKgDw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Mayotte%20disput e&f=false http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11501134 http://unjobs.org/topics/geographical-descriptors/africa/comorian-island-of-mayotte

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http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/Multilateral/africa/oau.htm (OAU official site)

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