Hostilities began on March 11, when Comorian forces staged an armed incursion on the island but diplomacy continued with an intervention by South African President Thabo Mbeki who attempted to delay the planned invasion to the distinct displeasure of the Comorian government.
As hostilidades comezaron o 11 de marzo, cando as forzas comorenses iniciaron unha incursión armada na illa, pero a diplomacia continuou cunha intervención do presidente sudafricano Thabo Mbeki que intentou atrasar a invasión planeada para o desgusto do goberno das Comores.