Why does the flag of Comoros include four stars even though the country governs three main islands?

The flag of Comoros features four stars to represent the four main islands of the Comorian archipelago: Grande Comore (Njazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Mayotte.12

While the nation of Comoros currently governs only three of these islands, the fourth star serves as a formal territorial claim over Mayotte. Although Mayotte is geographically part of the archipelago, it remains under the administration of France. The inclusion of the fourth star reflects the country's ongoing political stance regarding the sovereignty of the island.13