ARRL DXCC ENTITY RE-EVALUATION MEMORANDUM – D6

D6 — COMOROS
Evaluation Under 1975 ARRL DXCC Rules

I. PURPOSE

This memorandum evaluates whether D6 — Comoros qualified as a valid ARRL DXCC Entity under the 1975 ARRL DXCC Rules.
The evaluation covers:

• The transformation of Comoros from a French overseas territory to an independent republic
• Compliance with the 1975 DXCC Political-Entity criteria
• International diplomatic recognition
• Prefix assignment and telecommunication independence
• Whether any geographic criteria were necessary

Comoros appears on the DXCC List under the prefix block D6.

II. BACKGROUND

Political & Administrative Status (Pre-1975)

Before independence, Comoros was:

• A French Overseas Territory (“Territoire des Comores”)
• Governed by a French-appointed High Commissioner
• Lacking sovereignty
• Recognized internationally as under French administration

Political Transformation (1975)

On 6 July 1975:

• Comoros declared independence as the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
• Governed by:
– A national president
– Independent ministries and administration
– National legislature
– National judiciary
• Assumed full internal and external sovereignty
• France ceased sovereign authority (except Mayotte’s separate referendum, which is treated separately in DXCC)

International Standing (1975)

In the months following independence, Comoros:

• Received broad international recognition
• Was admitted to the United Nations in November 1975
• Established diplomatic relations with African, Arab, and non-aligned states
• Formed its own diplomatic missions and foreign policy

This meets the full DXCC Political-Entity test for sovereignty.

DXCC Prefix Identity

• “D6” was assigned as the Comorian national prefix
• Demonstrates:
– National telecommunication regulation
– Independent authority over amateur licensing
– A clear separation from French prefix blocks (F, TO, etc.)

DXCC Context (1975)

The 1975 ARRL DXCC Rules defined a Political Entity as:

“A sovereign nation recognized by international law or listed as independent by the U.S. Department of State.”

And further:

“Newly independent states shall be added to the DXCC List as Political Entities.”

Comoros satisfies this definition exactly.

III. ANALYSIS UNDER THE 1975 DXCC RULES

1. POLITICAL ENTITY CRITERIA (1975) — PASS

1(a) Sovereign Independent Nation — ✔ PASS

• Independence achieved 6 July 1975
• No external administrative authority afterward
• Full control of territorial sovereignty

1(b) Independent Government — ✔ PASS

• National executive, legislative, and judicial branches
• National ministries for foreign affairs, finance, interior, etc.
• National constitution

1(c) International Recognition — ✔ PASS

• UN admission in 1975
• Widespread diplomatic recognition
• Participation in African Union, Arab League, and Non-Aligned Movement

1(d) Distinct ITU Prefix & Telecom Authority — ✔ PASS

• D6 prefix block assigned
• Fully autonomous regulation of amateur radio licensing

Conclusion:
Comoros meets all Political-Entity standards of the 1975 rule framework.

2. GEOGRAPHIC ENTITY CRITERIA (1975) — NOT APPLICABLE

Although Comoros is an archipelago, geographic criteria only applied to dependent territories.
Because Comoros is a sovereign state, geographic DXCC rules are irrelevant.

3. SPECIAL-AREA CRITERIA (1975) — NOT APPLICABLE

Comoros was not:

• A UN trust territory
• A protectorate
• A treaty-governed region
• A colonial dependency after July 1975

Thus no special-area rule applies.

4. 1975 DELETION CRITERIA — NOT TRIGGERED

Deletion required:

Loss of sovereignty, or
Assimilation into another state

Neither applied:

• Comoros remained independent after 1975
• No merger or occupation occurred
• Autonomous telecommunication authority remained intact

Thus deletion was impossible.

V. FINAL DETERMINATION

✅ D6 — COMOROS qualifies as an ARRL DXCC Entity under the 1975 DXCC Rules.

Qualification Basis (1975):

✔ Newly independent sovereign republic (6 July 1975)
✔ Admitted to the UN
✔ Recognized internationally
✔ National telecommunication authority (D6 prefix)
✔ Meets all Political-Entity criteria
✔ Directly consistent with DXCC treatment of post-colonial states (D4 Cape Verde, D2 Angola, 5R Madagascar, 5N Nigeria)

Conclusion:
Under the 1975 ARRL DXCC Rules, D6 — Comoros is a valid and fully compliant Political DXCC Entity.

VI. SUMMARY TABLE

Rule (1975)	Pass/Fail	Notes
Sovereign Nation	✔ PASS	Independence 6 July 1975
Independent Government	✔ PASS	National constitution & ministries
International Recognition	✔ PASS	UN admission
ITU Prefix (D6)	✔ PASS	Independent telecom authority
Geographic Tests	N/A	Sovereign state
Special-Area Rules	N/A	Not applicable
Deletion Criteria	Not Triggered	Sovereignty intact
Final Status	VALID POLITICAL ENTITY (1975)	Newly independent republic

References

ARRL DXCC Rules, editions current through 1975
Clinton B. DeSoto, W1CBD, “How to Count Countries Worked, A New DX Scoring System,” QST, October 1935
ARRL DXCC Country Lists, mid-1970s editions
Historical records of Comorian independence and international recognition (1975)
DXCC precedent involving post-colonial African and Indian Ocean island states