# Comoros Cuts Ties with Qatar (7 June 2017)

URL: https://allhistories.com/comoros/timeline/2017-comoros-cuts-ties-with-qatar
Location: Moroni, Grande Comore, Comoros
Themes: main-event

The Comoros, a member of the Arab League since 1993, had close political and financial ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which were major sources of aid, investment and employment for Comorians. In June 2017 Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt broke off relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and being too close to Iran. On 7 June 2017 the Comorian government announced that it was severing diplomatic relations with Qatar, citing its commitment to Arab solidarity and the fight against extremism. The Comoros was among a handful of African and Muslim-majority states, including Mauritania and the Maldives, to follow the Saudi-led bloc. The decision was criticised by some Comorian politicians who noted Qatar's past support for development projects. The move reflected the Comoros' alignment with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi under Azali Assoumani, in contrast to Sambi's earlier openness to Iran, with which the Comoros had broken ties in 2016. Relations with Qatar were restored after the Al-Ula declaration ended the Gulf crisis in January 2021. At this point in the timeline (7 June 2017), the President of the Union of the Comoros was Azali Assoumani (26 May 2016 – 13 February 2019).

## Why it matters
It showed the Comoros' firm alignment with Saudi Arabia and the UAE under Azali.

Ruler at the Time: [Azali Assoumani (2016–)](https://allhistories.com/comoros/rulers/azali-assoumani-2016)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Qatar diplomatic crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_diplomatic_crisis)
- [Wikipedia — Foreign relations of the Comoros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_the_Comoros)
- [Al Jazeera — Comoros](https://www.aljazeera.com/where/comoros/)
- [Wikipedia — The Union Of The Comoros (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comoros)