Author: Alan, 5B4AHJ
The original DXCC entity of Comoro Islands included the Island of Mayotte.
Following referendums on the four constituent islands of Comoros,
that is Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan and Mayotte,
in which only Mayotte voted to remain under French administration,
the Commorian parliament passed a unilateral resolution declaring independence from France on 1975-06-05.
From a DXCC perspective, on 1975-07-05, Comoro Islands became a deleted entity,
and two new entities, Comoros, D6 and Mayotte, were born.
Mayotte retained the old FH prefix.
QST February 1977 contains the following announcement:
"Two new countries on the ARRL Countries List are D6A, the Comoro Islands and FH8, Mayotte. QSOs made on or after July 6, 1975, count for these two countries. QSL cards for QSOs with D6A and FH8-Mayotte will be accepted for DXCC credits starting March 1, 1977. FH8, the Comoro Islands, is a deleted country as of July 6, 1975. This country is deleted because of the split of this island group into D6A and FH8-Mayotte."
Acknowledgements
ARRL QST
Vlad Lambrianov, UA6JD
Wikipedia: Comoros
Wikipedia: Mayotte