evidence: A: The ties between France and Mayotte are older and closer than those with the other islands of the Comoros archipelago. Mayotte became an official French colony in June 1843. In 1846, slavery was abolished there. Forty years later, the three other islands in the archipelago, Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, became French protectorates (with agreements in 1886 for Grande Comore, in 1887 for Anjouan, and 1892 for Mohéli). They only became colonies in 1912, 70 years after Mayotte. [...] In 1946, the Comoros archipelago became a French overseas territory with its capital in Dzaoudzi, Mayotte. The Territorial Assembly of the Comoros was founded, with representatives from all four islands. The territory maintained close ties with Madagascar. In 1958, Mayotte, Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli adopted different institutional approaches. At its 11 December 1958 session, the Territorial Assembly of the Comoros opted to maintain its status as a French overseas territory, with 25 votes for and four against. The four dissenting votes were from Mayotte, which wished to become a French overseas department. In 1968, each island set up its own institutions. From this point onwards, each island managed its own affairs through a constituency council, which voted on its own budget, tax rate and taxes.