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| 1978 |
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| French mercenaries restored Abdallah to power. Abdallah's reliance on white mercenaries led to his ouster from the Organization of African Unity (OAU). He pursued a program of development financed by Gulf state allies. | 1 |
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| 1985–90 |
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| Comoros drew closer to South Africa, and Comoros mercenaries were accused of providing arms to RENAMO (Movimento Nacional da Resistencia de Mozambique) in Mozambique. | 2 |
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| 1998, Nov. 6 |
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| Pres. Muhammad Taki Abdoulkarim died and was replaced by Tradjidine Ben Said Massoundi. | 3 |
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| 1999, April 30 |
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| A military coup led by Col. Azzaly Assoumani on the island of Grande Comore stemmed from opposition to continuing attempts of the Anjouan islanders to secede from Comoros. Anjouan originally declared its independence on Aug. 3, 1997. The anti-Anjouan demonstrators overthrew interim president Massoundi as Assoumani assumed full executive, legislative, and military power. The coup was condemned by the OAU, which responded with harsh economic sanctions. | 4 |
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| 2000, Jan. 23 |
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| In a disputed referendum, Anjouans (the island is also called Nzwani) endorsed secession. | 5 |
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| Feb. 1 |
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| The OAU enforced economic sanctions and ceased communications with Anjouan in an effort to end the rebellion. The OAU insisted that Assoumani return Comoros to civilian rule. | 6 |
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