A rare joint Anglo-French condominium over the New Hebrides archipelago, following governance under an Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission (1887-1889 and 1890-1906). Unusual for running two entirely parallel colonial administrations (separate British and French resident-commissioners, courts, police forces, currencies, education systems, and even prisons) side by side -- contemporaries nicknamed it the 'Pandemonium' -- with a Joint Court (one British judge, one French judge, and a third nominated by the King of Spain until the post was abolished in 1939) to settle disputes touching both systems, plus a separate Native Court for Melanesian customary matters. Indigenous ni-Vanuatu were officially stateless under the condominium, needing travel documents co-signed by both resident commissioners.
Became internally self-governing in January 1978 (a partly-elected Representative Assembly had existed since 1975) and gained full independence as the Republic of Vanuatu on 30 July 1980.
Regional reference covering the New Hebrides/Vanuatu condominium.