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Why does Comoros claim Mayotte even though France administers it?

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Comoros claims Mayotte because the island is geographically part of the Comoros archipelago, and the country has asserted its sovereignty over the territory since declaring independence from France in 1975.12

While the four main islands of the archipelago were historically administered together as a single French overseas territory, the political situation shifted in 1975 when the three northernmost islands voted for independence. During this process, the inhabitants of Mayotte chose to remain with France.12

Comoros maintains its claim based on the territorial integrity of the archipelago, a position that has received international support. In 1979, the United Nations passed a resolution affirming the sovereignty of Comoros over Mayotte, and the African Union has also backed this claim. Despite this, Mayotte remains an overseas département of France, a status solidified by a 2009 referendum in which 95 percent of Mayotte's voters favored closer integration with the French state.1