1978 Comorian coup d'état

From May 12 to May 13, 1978, a group of foreign mercenaries led by Bob Denard staged a coup d'état which resulted in the ousting of President Soilih and the deaths of five people.^[2][4] In the aftermath, a provisional government was formed under the leadership of Said Attoumani, a minister of the Abdallah administration who helped lead the coup. The new government claimed to restore rights previously denied during the Soilih regime, including freedom of religion, the right to hold traditional wedding ceremonies, and the right to freely use personal property.^[3]

Following a few days of rule by the provisional government, former president Ahmed Abdallah and former vice president Mohamed Ahmed, both financiers of the coup attempt,^[5] returned to Moroni from their three-year exile^[6] in Paris and installed themselves as joint presidents, proclaiming the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros on May 24.^[4] Soon after however, Abdallah was named as the sole executive.^[5]

On May 29, Ali Soilih was shot and killed while reportedly attempting to escape from house arrest. The government claimed that he was fatally wounded while trying to flee with "outside elements".^[6] Although other sources claim Soilih was stabbed to death with a bayonet.^[7]