Referendum on Mayotte

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34127, 13 April 1976, Page 21

Referendum on Mayotte

(N. Z.P. A. Reuter— Copyright) PARIS, April 12. Almost 80 per cent 1 of the voters on the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte spoiled their referendum ballot papers yesterday to underline their wish for closer ties with France.

In February, 99 per cent of the electorate of 22,000 voted for Mayotte to remain French, and rejected the idea of it becoming part of the independent Comores archipelago, midway between Mozambique and Madagascar. Yesterday, the electors were asked if they wanted Mayotte to retain or abandon its position as a French overseas territory, and, according to almost-complete results published in Paris, 79 per cent of them spoiled their ballot papers on the advice of the Mahorais Popular Movement, which wants the 142-square-mile island to become a French department.

The French Secretary of State for Overseas Departments and Territories (Mr Olivier Stem) will now put before Parliament a new statute for Mayotte.

The other three Comores islands — Anjouan, Grande Comore,' and Moheli — which declared independence from France in December, 1974, have always demanded that Mayotte be part of their territory.