Mayotte

The Department of Mayotte is an island group in the Indian Ocean, making up part of the Comoros Islands, which is under the jurisdiction of France.

The islands were initially populated by people from East Africa. In the 15th Century Arabs came to the islands establishing a Sultanate and Islam became the predominant religion. In 1841 the islands were purchased by France and the populace voted to remain with France when the Comoros became independent in 1974.

The Bahá’í Faith was first present in Mayotte in 1954 although teaching efforts focused on what is now independent Comoros. The first pioneer to Mayotte was Mehrabán Sohailí who arrived in Dzaoudzi on Mayotte island on November 28, 1954, although he moved to Moroni which is in what is now the independent Comoros in early 1955.