This article lists the past presidents of Comoros which is also the heads of state since the country gained independence from France in 1975.
Term limits
A new constitution, approved in the 2018 constitutional referendum allows the president to run for two consecutive five-year terms. Previously during the time of Union of the Comoros, there was a one-term rotational system in place to share the presidency between Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli.
List of officeholders
Name (Birth–Death) |
Title | Term of office | Political party | |||||
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
/ • State of the Comoros (État Comorien) | ||||||||
1 | Ahmed Abdallah (1919–1989) |
President of the Government (until 7 July 1975) Head of State |
6 July 1975 | 3 August 1975 | 28 days | UDC | ||
2 | Said Mohamed Jaffar (1918–1993) |
Chairman of the National Council of the Revolution (until 10 August 1975) Chairman of the National Executive Council |
3 August 1975 | 3 January 1976 | 153 days | RDPC | ||
3 | Ali Soilih (1937–1978) |
Head of State (until 28 October 1977) President |
3 January 1976 | 13 May 1978 | 2 years, 130 days | RDPC | ||
4 | Said Atthoumani | Chairman of the Politico-Military Directorate | 13 May 1978 | 23 May 1978 | 10 days | Independent | ||
// • Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros (République fédérale islamique des Comores) (Jumhuriyat al-Qumur al-Itthadiyah al-Islamiyah) |
||||||||
– | Ahmed Abdallah & Mohamed (1919–1989) (1917–1984) |
Co-Chairmen of the Politico-Military Directorate (until 22 July 1978) Co-Chairmen of the Directorate |
23 May 1978 | 3 October 1978 | 133 days | UDC | ||
(1) | Ahmed Abdallah (1919–1989) |
Chairman of the Directorate (until 25 October 1978) President |
3 October 1978 | 26 November 1989 † | 11 years, 54 days | UDC | ||
– | Said Mohamed Djohar (1919–2006) Acting |
Acting President | 27 November 1989 | 20 March 1990 | 113 days | UDC | ||
5 | Said Mohamed Djohar (1919–2006) |
President | 20 March 1990 | 29 September 1995 | 5 years, 193 days | UCP | ||
6 | Combo Ayouba (c. 1952–2010) |
Coordinator of the Transitional Military Committee | 29 September 1995 | 2 October 1995 | 3 days | Military | ||
– | Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim & said Ali Kemal Acting (1936–1998) (1938–2020) |
Acting President | 2 October 1995 | 5 October 1995 | 3 days | National Union for Democracy (Comoros) Party of Unity and Fraternity of the Islands |
||
– | Caabi El-Yachroutu Mohamed (born 1949) Acting |
Interim President | 5 October 1995 | 26 January 1996 | 113 days | Rally for Democracy and Renewal | ||
(5) | Said Mohamed Djohar (1919–2006) |
President | 26 January 1996 | 25 March 1996 | 59 days | Rally for Democracy and Renewal | ||
6 | Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim (1936–1998) |
President | 25 March 1996 | 6 November 1998 † | 2 years, 226 days | Rally for Democracy and Renewal | ||
– | Tadjidine Massounde (1933–2004) Acting |
Interim President | 6 November 1998 | 30 April 1999 | 175 days | Independent | ||
7 | Colonel Azali Asso (born 1959) |
Chief of Staff of the National Development Army (until 6 May 1999) Head of State |
30 April 1999 | 23 December 2001 | 2 years, 237 days | Military | ||
• Union of the Comoros (Union des Comores) / الاتحاد القمر (dzima wa Komori) |
||||||||
(7) | Colonel Azali Assoumani (born 1959) |
Head of State | 23 December 2001 | 21 January 2002 | 29 days | Military | ||
– | Hamada Madi (born 1965) Acting |
Interim President | 21 January 2002 | 26 May 2002 | 125 days | Republican Party (Comoros) | ||
7 | Azali Assoumani (born 1959) |
President | 26 May 2002 | 26 May 2006 | 4 years | CRC | ||
8 | Ahmed Sambi (born 1958) |
President | 26 May 2006 | 26 May 2011 | 5 years | FNJ | ||
9 | Ikililou Dhoinine (born 1962) |
President | 26 May 2011 | 26 May 2016 | 5 years | FNJ | ||
7 | Azali Assoumani (born 1959) |
President | 26 May 2016 | Incumbent | 7 years, 95 days | CRC | ||
– | Moustadroine Abdou (born 1969) Acting |
Interim President | 13 February 2019 | 3 April 2019 | 49 days | CRC | ||