French rule

The present culture of the Comoros is very similar to that of the Swahili people on the African coast from Somalia to Mozambique.

Because of rival sultanates on the islands, in the nineteenth century France was able to exploit the situation and establish a presence. In 1886 the Comoros islands became a French protectorate and in 1912 France officially proclaimed them colonies.

Until the 1960s the islands were more or less totally isolated from the world. France maintained a situation which forbade political organization and a local press. In December 1961, however, in response to increased demands from the people of the islands, a system of internal autonomy was set up.