All four islands of the Comorian archipelago, lying between Mozambique on the East African mainland and Madagascar, were offered independence from France in 1975. Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohelé decided to form a separate independent state, now called the Union of the Comoros, but Mayotte chose to stay under a form of French rule.

Since 1975 Mayotte, the second largest island of the Comoros archipelago, has been one of France’s Overseas Departments and Territories (départements d’outre-mer et territoires d’outre-mer, or DOM-TOM). At present it is known as the Departmental Collectivity of Mayotte, sending one elected deputy to the French National Assembly, and two senators to the French Senate. It already receives a lot of economic support from France.