Ali Soilih

Ali Soilih (January 7 1937 - May 29 1978) was a Comorian socialist revolutionary and political figure.

Soilih was born in Majunga, Madagascar. He lived much of his early life there, and was educated in Madagascar and France. During the early 1960s he went to Comoros and worked in agriculture and economic development. He entered politics and became an adherent of Maoism.

Less than a month after Comoros gained independence from France, Soiilih overthrew President Ahmed Abdallah and became head of a revolutionary council which took over Comoros. This occurred on August 3 1975 when Soilih, whose adherents were barely armed, hired French mercenary Bob Denard to overthrow Abdallah. Soilih officially became President of the revolutionary council in January 1976. He implemented socialist economic policies, which caused a revocation of French aid. He also attempted to change Comorian culture in an attempt to make a more utopian society. He allowed younger people to take more power, discouraged the study of history, and legalized cannabis. The effects of his social policies are still apparent, particularly on Anjouan.

On May 13, 1978, Soilih was overthrown by Denard, who had been paid by Ahmed Abdallah. Abdallah became president, and Soilih was soon killed by Abdallah's supporters. Soilih's older half-brother, Said Mohamed Djohar, overthrew Abdallah, possibly with the help of Denard, in 1989 and served as president of Comoros until 1996.