List of heads of state of the Comoros facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Union of the Comoros قائمة رؤساء جزر القمر Président de l'Union des Comores
National Seal
Incumbent Azali Assoumani since 3 April 2019
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of the Comoros (2001)
Inaugural holder	Ahmed Abdallah (State of the Comoros; First president of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros) Ali Soilih (State of the Comoros; First president) Azali Assoumani (Union of the Comoros)
Formation	27 October 1977; 47 years ago (1977-10-27)
Succession	Line of succession
Deputy	Abolished, Vice-President of the Comoros
Salary	53,557,291 Comorian francs/117,060 USD annually

This article shares information about the heads of state of the Comoros. These are the leaders who have guided the country since it became independent from France in 1975.

Presidential Term Limits

The Comoros has rules about how long a president can serve. A new set of rules, approved in 2018, allows the president to serve for two terms. Each term lasts five years.

Before these new rules, the presidency used to rotate. This meant that the leader would come from a different island each time. The islands of Anjouan, Grande Comore, and Mohéli would take turns holding the top job.

Leaders of Comoros

Here is a list of the people who have served as the head of state in the Comoros. The country has had different names over the years.

No.	Portrait	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 Islamic Republic of the Comoros (République fédérale islamique des Comores) (Jumhuriyat al-Qumur al-Itthadiyah al-Islamiyah)
–		Ahmed Abdallah & Mohamed Ahmed (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
-		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 Assoumani (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	Independent
9		Ikililou Dhoinine (born 1962)	President	26 May 2011	26 May 2016	5 years	Baobab Movement
(7)		Azali Assoumani (born 1959)	President	26 May 2016	13 February 2019	2 years, 263 days	CRC
–		Moustadroine Abdou (born 1969) Acting	Interim President	13 February 2019	3 April 2019	49 days	CRC
(7)		Azali Assoumani (born 1959)	President	3 April 2019	Incumbent	6 years, 114 days	CRC

Timeline of Leaders

What Happens if a President Leaves Office?

The Comorian Constitution has clear rules for what happens if a president cannot continue their term. This could be due to death, resignation, or other reasons.

• If the president leaves office within the first 900 days (about 2.5 years) of their term:

* The government ministers choose one of themselves to be the "Interim President." * New elections must be held within 60 days. * The person who wins these elections finishes the rest of the original five-year presidential term.

• If the president leaves office after the first 900 days of their term:

* The Governor of the island that currently holds the presidency takes over. * This Governor serves as president until the end of the original five-year term. * After that, regular elections are held as planned.

Latest Presidential Election

The most recent presidential election in the Comoros took place in 2024. Here are the results:

More About Comoros

• History of the Comoros
• List of colonial governors of the Comoros
• List of prime ministers of the Comoros
• List of sultans in the Comoros
• Politics of the Comoros
• Vice-President of the Comoros