List of rulers of the Comoros
Overview of Comorian rulers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following article lists the rulers and heads of state of the Comoros islands.
Sultans of Ndzuwani (Anjouan)
Sultans of Mayotte
Sultans on Ngazidja (Grande Comore)
Sultans of Mwali (Mohéli)
Heads of state of the Comoros (1975–present)
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| N | Portrait | President
(Birth–Death) |
Tenure | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of the Comoros,Independence from France | ||||
| 1 | Mohamed Ahmed | 13 August 1957 to
1 January 1962 |
Inde | |
| 2 | Saïd Mohamed Cheikh | 1 January 1962 to 16 March 1970 | Inde | |
| 3 | Saïd Ibrahim Ben Ali | 2 April 1970 to 2 April
1972 |
Inde | |
| 4 | Abdallah Mohamed | 2 April 1972
to 7 Ju1y 1975 |
Inde | |
| 5 | Ahmed Abdallah | 7 July 1975 to 3 August 1975 | UDC | |
| 6 | Said Mohamed Jaffar | 3 August 1975 to
1 January 1976 |
UNF | |
| 7 | Mohamed Hassan Ali | 1 January
1976 to 30 January 1976 |
Inde | |
| 8 | Ali Soilih, | 30 January 1976 to 13 May 1977' | UDC | |
| 9 | Said Atthoumani | 13 May 1978 to 23 May 1978 | UDC | |
| Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros | ||||
| 10 | Ahmed Abdallah | 23 May 1978 to 22 July 1978 | UDC | |
| 11 | Mohamed Ahmed | 23 May 1978 to 22 July 1978 | ||
| 12 | Ahmed Abdallah | 22 July 1978 to 3 October 1978 | ||
| 13 | Mohamed Ahmed | 3 October 1978 to 3 October 1978 | ||
| 14 | Ahmed Abdallah | 3 October 1978 to 26 November 1989 | ||
| 15 | Said Mohamed Djohar | 27 November 1989 to 29 September 1995 | UCP/RDR | |
| 16 | Combo Ayouba | 29 September 1995 to 2 October 1995 | Mil | |
| 17 | Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim | 2 October 1995 to 4
October 1995 |
UNDC | |
| 18 | Said Ali Kemal | 4 October 1995 to 5 October 1995 | Inde | |
| 19 | Caabi El-Yachroutu Mohamed | 5 October 1995 to 26 January 1996 | RDR | |
| 20 | Said Mohamed Djohar | 26 January 1996 to 25 March 1996 | ||
| 21 | Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim | 25 March 1996 to 6 November 1998 | ||
| 22 | Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde, | 6 November 1998 to 30 April 1999 | ||
| 23 |  |
Azali Assoumani | 30 April 1999 to
21 January 2002 |
Mil |
| 24 |  |
Hamada Madi Bolero | 21 January 2002 to 26 May 2002 | CRC |
| 25 | |
Azali Assoumani | 26 May 2002 to 26 May 2006 | |
| 26 |  |
Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi | 26 May 2006 to 26 May 2011 | BM |
| 27 |  |
Ikililou Dhoinine | 26 May 2011 to 26 May 2016 | |
| 28 | |
Azali Assoumani | 26 May 2016 to 3 February 2019 | CRC |
| 29 | Moustadroine Abdou | 3 February 2019 to 26 May 2019 | ||
| 30 | |
Azali Assoumani | 26 May 2019 to present | |
List of officeholders
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Representing | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of the Comoros | |||||
| Mohamed Hassanaly | January 1976 | 13 May 1978 | Mohéli | Ali Soilih | |
| Union of the Comoros (2002–2019) | |||||
| Caabi El-Yachroutu Mohamed | 26 May 2002 | 26 May 2006 | Anjouan | Azali Assoumani[a] | |
| Rachidi ben Massonde | 26 May 2002 | 26 May 2006 | Mohéli | ||
|
Ikililou Dhoinine | 26 May 2006 | 26 May 2011 | Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi[b] | |
| Idi Nadhoim | 26 May 2006 | 26 May 2011 | Grande Comore | ||
| Fouad Mohadji | 26 May 2011 | 26 May 2016 | Mohéli | Ikililou Dhoinine[c] | |
| Mohamed Ali Soilihi | 26 May 2011 | 26 May 2016 | Grande Comore | ||
| Nourdine Bourhane | 26 May 2011 | 26 May 2016 | Anjouan | ||
| Abdallah Said Sarouma | 26 May 2016 | 26 May 2019 | Mohéli | Azali Assoumani[a] | |
| Djaffar Ahmed Said | 26 May 2016 | 26 May 2019 | Grande Comore | ||
.jpg) |
Moustadroine Abdou | 26 May 2016 | 26 May 2019 | Anjouan | |
Heads of government
| Tenure | Portrait | Incumbent | Affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Suzerainty | ||||
| French overseas territory | ||||
| 13 August 1957 to 1 January 1962 | Mohamed Ahmed, Vice President of the Government Council | PV | ||
| 1 January 1962 to 16 March 1970 | Saïd Mohamed Cheikh, President of the Government Council | PV | Died in office | |
| 2 April 1970 to 16 June 1972 | Saïd Ibrahim Ben Ali, President of the Government Council | PB | ||
| 16 June 1972 to 26 December 1972 | Said Mohamed Jaffar, President of the Government Council | RDPC | ||
| 26 December 1972 to 6 July 1975 | Ahmed Abdallah, President of the Government Council | UDC | ||
| State of Comoros | Independence from France | |||
| (Etat Comorien) | ||||
| 7 January 1976 to 24 May 1978 | Abdallah Mohamed, Prime Minister | UDC | ||
| Federal and Islamic Republic of Comoros | ||||
| (République Fédérale Islamique des Comores) | ||||
| (Jumhuriyat al-Qumur al-Itthadiyah al-Islamiyah) | ||||
| 24 May 1978 to 22 December 1978 | Abdallah Mohamed, Prime Minister | UDC | (contd.) | |
| 22 December 1978 to 8 February 1982 | Salim Ben Ali, Prime Minister | UCP | ||
| 8 February 1982 to 31 December 1984 | .jpg) | Ali Mroudjaé, Prime Minister | UCP | |
| 31 December 1984 to 7 January 1992 | Post abolished | |||
| 7 January 1992 to 15 July 1992 |  | Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim, Prime Minister | RND | |
| 15 July 1992 to 1 January 1993 | Vacant | |||
| 1 January 1993 to 26 May 1993 | Ibrahim Halidi, Prime Minister | UDD | ||
| 26 May 1993 to 19 June 1993 | Said Ali Mohamed, Prime Minister | RND | ||
| 20 June 1993 to 2 January 1994 | Ahmed Ben Cheikh Attoumane, Prime Minister | RDR | ||
| 2 January 1994 to 14 October 1994 | Mohamed Abdou Madi, Prime Minister | RDR | ||
| 14 October 1994 to 29 April 1995 | Halifa Houmadi, Prime Minister | RDR | ||
| 29 April 1995 to 27 March 1996 | Caabi El-Yachroutu Mohamed, Prime Minister | RDR | ||
| 27 March 1996 to 27 December 1996 | Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde, Prime Minister | n-p | ||
| 27 December 1996 to 9 September 1997 | Ahmed Abdou, Prime Minister | RND | ||
| 7 December 1997 to 30 May 1998 | Nourdine Bourhane, Prime Minister | n-p | ||
| 30 May 1998 to 22 November 1998 | Vacant | |||
| 22 November 1998 to 30 April 1999 | Abbas Djoussouf, Prime Minister | FNR | Deposed in a coup d'état | |
| 30 April 1999 to 7 December 1999 | Vacant | |||
| 2 December 1999 to 29 November 2000 | Bianrifi Tarmidi, Prime Minister | n-p | ||
| 29 November 2000 to 23 December 2001 | | Hamada Madi, Prime Minister | PRC | |
| Union of Comoros (Union des Comores) | ||||
| الاتحاد القمر (Udzima wa Komori) | ||||
| 23 December 2001 to 15 April 2002 | | Hamada Madi, Prime Minister | PRC | (contd.) |
| 15 April 2002 to present | Post abolished | |||
Colonial governors
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| French Suzerainty | ||
| 25 March 1841 | Annexed by France; ratified 13 June 1843 | |
| Colony of Mayotte | ||
| 1841 to June 1843 | Pierre Passot, French Representative | |
| Subordinated to the governors of Île de Bourbon/Réunion | ||
| June 1843 to 11 March 1844 | Pierre Passot, Commandant-Superior | 1st Term |
| 11 March 1844 to 17 June 1844 | Paul Charles Rang, Commandant-Superior | |
| 17 June 1844 to 22 October 1844 | Charles Louis Thiebault, acting Commandant-Superior | |
| 22 October 1844 to January 1846 | Auguste Le Brun, acting Commandant-Superior | |
| January 1846 to August 1849 | Pierre Passot, Commandant-Superior | 2nd Term |
| Subordinated to the governors of Réunion | ||
| 11 August 1849 to 13 June 1851 | Stanislas Fortune Livet, Commissioner | |
| 13 June 1851 to 18 October 1853 | Philibert Bonfils, Commissioner | |
| 18 October 1853 to 13 December 1854 | André Brisset, acting Commissioner | |
| 13 December 1854 to 15 August 1857 | Auguste Joseph Verand, Commissioner | |
| 15 August 1857 to 14 August 1860 | Charles Auguste Morel, Commissioner | |
| 14 August 1860 to 14 December 1864 | Charles Gabrié, Commissioner | |
| 14 December 1864 to 8 July 1868 | Joseph Christophe Colomb, Commissioner | 1st Term |
| 8 July 1868 to 15 April 1869 | Joseph Ferdinand Hayes, acting Commissioner | |
| 15 April 1869 to 21 May 1869 | L.J. Leguay, acting Commissioner | |
| 21 May 1869 to 4 March 1871 | Joseph Christophe Colomb, Commissioner | 2nd Term |
| 4 March 1871 to 19 December 1871 | Patrice Louis Ventre de la Touloubre, acting Commissioner | 1st Term |
| 19 December 1871 to 1 March 1875 | Patrice Louis Ventre de la Touloubre, Commissioner | 1st Term |
| 1 March 1875 to 16 September 1875 | Claude Fontaine, acting Commissioner | |
| 16 September 1875 to 26 December 1875 | François Marie Ferriez, acting Commissioner | |
| 26 December 1875 to 2 January 1878 | Patrice Louis Ventre de la Touloubre, Commissioner | 2nd Term |
| 2 January 1878 to 9 December 1878 | Jean Roblin, acting Commandant | |
| 9 December 1878 to 7 September 1879 | Charles Vassal, acting Commandant | |
| 7 September 1879 to 16 December 1879 | Charles Bayet, acting Commandant | |
| 16 December 1879 to 31 December 1879 | Edouard Sasias, acting Commandant | |
| 31 December 1879 to 3 March 1885 | François Marie Ferriez, Commandant | |
| 3 March 1885 to 24 June 1886 | Anne Léodor Philotée Metellus Gerville-Réache, Commandant | |
| Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Ndzuwani (Anjouan), and Mwali (Mohéli) French protectorates | ||
| 24 June 1886 to August 1887 | Anne Léodor Philotée Metellus Gerville-Réache, Commandant | (contd.) |
| 19 August 1887 to 5 September 1887 | Paul Louis Maxime Celoron de Blainville, Commandant | |
| Colony of Mayotte and Dependencies (Colony de Mayotte et Dépendances) | ||
| 5 September 1887 to 4 May 1888 | Paul Celeron de Blainville, Commandant | |
| 4 May 1887 to 1893 | Clovis Papinaud, Commandant | 1st Term |
| 1893 to 30 March 1896 | Etinne Lacascade, Commandant | |
| 30 March 1896 to 5 August 1897 | Gentien Pereton, Commandant | |
| 5 August 1897 to 7 March 1899 | Louis Micon, Commandant | |
| 7 March 1899 to 18 September 1900 | Clovis Papinaud, Commandant | 2nd Term |
| 18 September 1900 to 15 October 1902 | Pierre Hunert Auguste Pascal, Governor | |
| 15 October 1902 to 28 February 1905 | Alfred Albert Martineau, Governor | |
| 28 February 1905 to 3 March 1906 | Jean Auguste Gaston Joliet, Governor | |
| 3 March 1906 to 9 April 1908 | Fernand Foureau, Governor | |
| Colony of Mayotte and Dependencies attached to Madagascar | ||
| 9 April 1908 to 8 September 1908 | Fernand Foureau, Governor | (contd.) |
| 8 September 1908 to 1 May 1911 | Charles Henri Vergnes, Administrator | |
| 1 May 1911 to 28 September 1911 | Frédéric Estèbe, Administrator | |
| 28 September 1911 to 25 July 1912 | ||
| 25 July 1912 | Colony of Mayotte and Dependencies abolished and incorporated into Madagascar | |
| Province of Comoros | Under Madagascar; ratified 23 February 1914 | |
| 25 July 1912 to 21 February 1913 | Gabriel Samuel Garnier-Mouton, Administrator | |
| 21 February 1913 to 1914 | Honoré Cartron, Administrator | |
| 23 February 1914 | de jure subordinated to Madagascar | |
| 24 October 1946 to 27 October 1946 | Alain Alaniou, Administrator-superior | |
| French overseas territory | ||
| 27 October 1946 to 31 December 1948 | Alain Alaniou, Administrator-superior | |
| 31 December 1948 to December 1950 | Marie Emmanuel Adolphe Roger Rémy, acting Administrator-superior | |
| December 1950 to April 1956 | Pierre Coudert, Administrator-superior | |
| April 1956 to 11 February 1958 | Georges Victor Maurice Arnaud, acting Administrator-superior | |
| 11 February 1958 to 30 June 1959 | Georges Victor Maurice Arnaud, Administrator-superior | |
| 30 June 1959 to 14 December 1960 | Gabriel Savignac, acting Administrator-superior | |
| 14 December 1960 to 22 December 1961 | Louis Saget, Administrator-superior | |
| Territory of Comoros | Autonomous | |
| (Territoire des Comores) | ||
| 22 December 1961 to 27 February 1962 | Louis Saget, Administrator-superior | (contd.) |
| 27 February 1962 to 22 May 1962 | Louis Saget, High Commissioner | |
| 22 May 1962 to 15 February 1963 | Yves de Daruvar, High Commissioner | |
| 15 February 1963 to 26 July 1966 | Henri Joseph Marie Bernard, High Commissioner | |
| 26 July 1966 to November 1969 | Antoine Colombani, High Commissioner | |
| November 1969 to July 1975 | Jacques Mouradian, High Commissioner | |
| 6 July 1975 | Independence as State of Comoros, and secession of Mayotte | |
For continuation after independence, see: List of heads of state of the Comoros
List of officeholders
Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office.
| Term | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| French Suzerainty | ||
| Annexed by France (annexation ratified 13 June 1843) | ||
| Mayotte Protectorate (subordinated to Île de Bourbon/Réunion) | ||
| 1841 to 13 June 1843 | Pierre Passot, Representative | 1st time |
| Subordinated to the Governors of Île de Bourbon/Réunion | ||
| 13 June 1843 to 11 March 1844 | Pierre Passot, Commandant-Superior | 1st time |
| 11 March 1844 to 17 June 1844 | Paul Charles Rang, Commandant-Superior | |
| 17 June 1844 to 22 October 1844 | Charles Louis Thiebault, acting Commandant-Superior | |
| 22 October 1844 to January 1846 | Auguste Le Brun, acting Commandant-Superior | |
| January 1846 to August 1849 | Pierre Passot, Commandant-Superior | 2nd time |
| 11 August 1849 to 13 June 1851 | Stanislas Fortunat Livet, Commissioner | |
| 13 June 1851 to 18 October 1853 | Philibert Bonfils, Commissioner | |
| 18 October 1853 to 13 December 1854 | André Brisset, acting Commissioner | |
| 13 December 1854 to 15 August 1857 | Auguste Joseph Verand, Commissioner | |
| 15 August 1857 to 14 August 1860 | Charles Auguste Morel, Commissioner | |
| 14 August 1860 to 14 December 1864 | Charles Gabrié, Commissioner | |
| 14 December 1864 to 8 July 1868 | Joseph Vincent Christophe Colomb, Commissioner | 1st time |
| 8 July 1868 to 15 April 1869 | Joseph Ferdinand Hayes, acting Commissioner | |
| 15 April 1869 to 21 May 1869 | L.J. Leguay, acting Commissioner | |
| 21 May 1869 to 4 March 1871 | Joseph Vincent Christophe Colomb, Commissioner | 2nd time |
| 4 March 1871 to 1 March 1875 | Patrice Louis Jules Ventre de la Touloubre, Commissioner | Acting to 19 December 1871, 1st time |
| 1 March 1875 to 16 September 1875 | Claude Fontaine, acting Commissioner | |
| 16 September 1875 to 26 December 1875 | François Marie Ferriez, acting Commissioner | 1st time |
| 26 December 1875 to 2 January 1878 | Patrice Louis Jules Ventre de la Touloubre, Commissioner | 2nd time |
| 2 January 1878 to 9 December 1878 | Jean Roblin, acting Commandant | |
| 9 December 1878 to 7 September 1879 | Charles Vassal, acting Commandant | |
| 7 September 1879 to 16 December 1879 | Charles Bayet, acting Commandant | |
| 16 December 1879 to 31 December 1879 | Edouard Sasias, acting Commandant | |
| 31 December 1879 to 3 March 1885 | François Marie Ferriez, Commandant | 2nd time |
| 3 March 1885 to August 1887 | Anne Léodor Philotée Metellus Gerville-Réache, Commandant | |
| 19 August 1887 to 5 September 1887 | Paul Louis Maxime Celoron de Blainville, Commandant | |
| 5 September 1887 to 1888 | Paul Louis Maxime Celoron de Blainville, Governor | |
| 4 May 1888 to 1893 | Pierre Louis Clovis Papinaud, Governor | 1st time |
| 25 April 1893 to 30 March 1896 | Étienne Théodore Lacascade, Governor | |
| Mayotte Protectorate (Subordinated to Madagascar) | ||
| Subordinated to the Governors-General of Madagascar | ||
| 30 March 1896 to 1897 | Auguste Pereton, acting Administrator-Superior | |
| 5 August 1897 to 11 March 1899 | Louis Alexandre Antoine Mizon, Administrator-Superior | |
| March 1899 to 8 July 1900 | Pierre Louis Clovis Papinaud, Governor | 2nd time |
| 18 September 1900 to 1902 | Pierre Hubert Auguste Pascal, Governor | |
| 1902 | Louis Lemaire, acting Governor | |
| 15 October 1902 to May 1904 | Alfred Albert Martineau, Governor | |
| 1 June 1904 to 1905 | Jules Martin, acting Governor | |
| 1905 to 1906 | Jean Auguste Gaston Joliet, Governor | |
| 3 March 1906 to 1907 | Fernand Foureau, Governor | |
| 26 December 1907 to 1908 | Paul Patté, acting Governor | |
| 8 September 1908 to 1909 | Charles Henri Vergnes, Administrator | |
| 31 March 1909 to 1910 | Ernest Bonneval, Administrator | |
| 24 February 1910 to 1911 | Michel Astor, Administrator | |
| 1 May 1911 to 28 September 1911 | Frédéric Estèbe, Administrator | |
| 28 September 1911 to 25 July 1912 | Gabriel Samuel Garnier-Mouton, Administrator | |
| 25 July 1912 to 21 July 1975 | Part of the Comoros | |
| Separate colony | ||
| 21 July 1975 to 1976 | Younoussa Bamana, Prefect | Proclaimed by pro-French demonstrators |
| 23 June 1976 to 24 December 1976 | Jean Marie Coussirou, Prefect | |
| French collectivité territoriale (reaffirmed 22 December 1979) | ||
| 24 December 1976 to 30 April 1978 | Jean Marie Coussirou, Prefect | |
| 30 April 1978 to 15 April 1980 | Jean Maurice Marie Rigotard, Prefect | |
| 15 April 1980 to 24 January 1981 | Philippe Jacques Nicolas Kessler, Prefect | |
| 24 January 1981 to 25 January 1982 | Pierre Sevellec, Prefect | |
| 25 January 1982 to 10 May 1982 | Yves Bonnet, Prefect | |
| 10 May 1982 to 25 November 1982 | Yves Bonnet, Commissioner of the Republic | |
| 5 January 1983 to 1984 | Christian Pellerin, Commissioner of the Republic | |
| 1984 to 1986 | François Bonnelle, Commissioner of the Republic | |
| 1986 | Guy Dupuis, Commissioner of the Republic | |
| 1986 to 24 February 1988 | Akli Khider, Commissioner of the Republic | |
| 24 February 1988 to 23 November 1988 | Akli Khider, Prefect | |
| 23 November 1988 to 17 October 1990 | Daniel Limodin, Prefect | |
| 17 October 1990 to 24 February 1993 | Jean-Paul Coste, Prefect | |
| 9 March 1993 to 17 January 1994 | Jean-Jacques Debacq, Prefect | |
| 17 January 1994 to 20 February 1996 | Alain Weil, Prefect | |
| 20 February 1996 to 15 July 1998 | Philippe Boisadam, Prefect | |
| 31 August 1998 to 8 October 2001 | Pierre Bayle, Prefect | |
| 8 October 2001 to 4 July 2002 | Philippe de Mester, Prefect | |
| 4 July 2002 to 28 March 2003 | Jean-Jacques Brot, Prefect | |
| French overseas collectivité (with the designation collectivité départementale) | ||
| 28 March 2003 to 17 January 2005 | Jean-Jacques Brot, Prefect | |
| 17 January 2005 to 1 February 2007 | Jean-Paul Kihl, Prefect | |
| 1 February 2007 to September 2008 | Vincent Bouvier, Prefect | |
| 12 September 2008 to 13 July 2009 | Denis Robin, Prefect | |
| 13 July 2009 to 17 August 2009 | Christophe Peyrel, acting Prefect | |
| 17 August 2009 to 4 July 2011 | Hubert Derache, Prefect | |
| French overseas department | ||
| 4 July 2011 to 21 July 2011 | Patrick Duprat, acting Prefect | |
| 21 July 2011 to 30 January 2013 | Thomas Degos, Prefect | |
| 30 January 2013 to 30 July 2014 | Jacques Witkowski, Prefect | |
| 31 July 2014 to 5 May 2016 | Seymour Morsy, Prefect | |
| 6 May 2016 to 27 March 2018 | Frédéric Veau, Prefect | |
| 28 March 2018 to 9 July 2019 | Dominique Sorain, Prefect | |
| 10 July 2019 to 23 June 2021 | Jean-François Colombet,[1] Prefect | |
| 23 June 2021 to 14 February 2024 | Thierry Suquet,[2] Prefect | |
| 14 February 2024 to present | François-Xavier Bieuville, Prefect | |