Union des Comores Udzima wa Komori الإتّحاد القمريّ‎ Al-Ittiḥād Al-Qumuriyy Union of the Comoros
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Unité - Solidarité - Développement"  (French) "Unity - Solidarity - Development"
Anthem: Udzima wa ya Masiwa  (Comorian) "The Union of the Great Islands"
Capital (and largest city)		Moroni 11°41′S, 43°16′E
Official languages		Arabic, French
Demonym		Comorian
Government		Federal republic
-	President	Ahmed Abdallah M. Sambi
Independence		from France
-	Date	July 6, 1975
Area
-	Total	2,235 km² (178th) 863 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	2005 estimate	798,000 (159th)
-	Density	275/km² (25th) 712. The current flag of Comoros was designed in 2001 and adopted on January 7, 2002. The coat of arms of Comoros has the Crescent found on the national flag in the center within this crescent are the four stars found on the flag A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's "swb Udzima wa ya Masiwa" ( Comorian for "The Union of the Great Islands" is the National anthem of Comoros. Comorian ( Shikomor) is the most widely used language on the Comoros (independent islands in the Indian Ocean, off Mozambique and Madagascar The Comorians inhabiting Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli (86% of the population share African-Arab origins For other places people and things with the same name see Moroni Moroni (in Arabic موروني Mūrūnī) is the largest An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A federal republic is a Federation of States with a republican form of government List of Heads of State of the Comoros (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office Affiliations Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi (أحمد عبدالله محمد سامبي born 5 June 1958 in Mutsamudu, Anjouan Island Comoros) Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² 2/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2004 estimate
-	Total	$1. The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 049 billion (171st)
-	Per capita	$1,660 (156th)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 561 (medium) (134th)
Currency		Comorian franc (KMF)
Time zone		EAT (UTC+3)
-	Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+3)
Internet TLD		.km
Calling code		+269

The Comoros (pronounced /ˈkɒməroʊz/, listen (help·info); Arabic: جزر القمر‎, Juzur al-Qumur), officially the Union of the Comoros (French: Union des Comores, Arabic: الإتّحاد القمريّ‎, Al-Ittiḥād al-Qumuriyy) is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel between northern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The franc ( French: franc comorien; Arabic: فرنك قمري ( ISO 4217 currency code KMF is the official Currency of Comoros ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established East Africa Time, or EAT, is a time zone used in eastern Africa. Daylight saving time ( DST A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface The Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean between the island of Madagascar and southeast Africa, namely Mozambique. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa The nearest countries to the Comoros are Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, and the Seychelles. Tanzania ˌtænzəˈniːə officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya Seychelles (seɪˈʃɛl or /seɪˈʃɛlz/ in English and seʃɛl in French) officially the Republic of Seychelles (République des Seychelles Creole Prior to 2002, it was known officially as the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. At 2,235 km² (863 sq mi)^[1] the Comoros is the third smallest African nation by area; and with a population estimated at 798,000 it is the sixth smallest African nation by population (though it has one of the highest population densities in Africa). Its name derives from the Arabic word qamar ("moon"). ^[2]

The country officially consists of the four islands in the volcanic Comoros archipelago: Ngazidja (French: Grande Comore), Mwali (French: Mohéli), Nzwani (French: Anjouan), and Mahoré (French: Mayotte), as well as many smaller islands. An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant The Comoro Islands are an Archipelago lying between Madagascar and the African continent Grande Comore (officially called Ngazidja and also known as Ngasidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Grande Comore (officially called Ngazidja and also known as Ngasidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous Island of the Union of Comoros. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous Island of the Union of Comoros. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people ^[3][4] However, the government of the Union of the Comoros (or its predecessors since independence) has never administered the island of Mayotte, which France considers an overseas community and still administers. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The French overseas collectivities ( collectivités d'outre-mer or COM) like the French regions, themselves are first-order Administrative divisions Since Mayotte was the only island in the archipelago that voted against independence from France, and France has vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that would affirm Comorian sovereignty over the island,^[5][6] control was never passed to the Comoros. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

The country is notable for its diverse culture and history, as a nation formed at the crossroads of many civilizations. It has three official languages—Comorian (Shikomor), Arabic, and French, and it is the only state to be a member of each of the African Union, Francophonie, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Arab League, and Indian Ocean Commission, among other international organizations. Comorian ( Shikomor) is the most widely used language on the Comoros (independent islands in the Indian Ocean, off Mozambique and Madagascar Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The African Union (abbreviated AU in English, and UA in its other working languages is a Confederation consisting of 53  African La Francophonie is an international organisation of French-speaking countries and governments and in French, the community of French-speaking peoples The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC is an International organization with a permanent delegation to the United Nations. The Arab League ( الجامعة العربية) officially called the League of Arab States ( جامعة الدول العربية The Indian Ocean Commission ( COI) known as the Commission de l'Océan Indien in French, is an intergovernmental organization that joins Comoros However it has had a troubled history since independence in 1975, marked by an inordinate number of coups d'état.

History

Main article: History of Comoros

Pre-colonial inhabitation

The first human inhabitants of the Comoro Islands are thought to have been Polynesian and Melanesian settlers, Malays and Indonesians, travelling by boat. The History of Comoros is perhaps 1500 years old It has been inhabited by various groups throughout this time Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over Melanesia (from Greek: μέλας black, νῆσος island) means "islands of the black-skinned people" Malays (Melayu are an Ethnic group of Austronesian peoples predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. They settled there no later than the sixth century AD, the date of the earliest known archaeological site, found on Nzwani, though some sources speculate that settlement began as early as the first century. Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous Island of the Union of Comoros. ^[7] The islands of Comoros became populated by a succession of diverse groups from the coast of Africa, the Persian Gulf, Indonesia, and Madagascar. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern Swahili settlers first reached the islands as a part of the greater Bantu expansion that took place in Africa throughout the first millennium. The Swahili are a people and culture found on the coast of East Africa, mainly the coastal regions and the islands of Kenya and Tanzania, and north Bantu may refer to Bantu expansion, a series of migrations of Bantu speakers Bantu languages Bantu people

Development of the Comoros is periodized into phases, beginning with Swahili influence and settlement in the Dembini phase (ninth to tenth centuries), during which each island maintained a single, central village. ^[8] From the eleventh to the fifteenth centuries, trade with the island of Madagascar and merchants from the Middle East flourished, smaller villages emerged, and existing towns expanded. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Unconfirmed legends tell of early Arab or Persian settlements dated even before their known arrival to the archipelago, and Swahili oral historians frequently trace genealogies back to Persian or Arab ancestors. Middle Eastern merchants first introduced Islam to the islands. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. As the religion gained in popularity, large mosques were constructed. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger The Comoro Islands, like other coastal areas in the region, were important stops in early Islamic trade routes frequented by Persians and Arabs. Despite its distance from the coast, Comoros is situated along the major sea route between Kilwa and Mozambique, an outlet for Zimbabwean gold. Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election ^[9]

By the nineteenth century, the influence of Sunni Persians from Shiraz, Iran, dominated the islands. Shiraz ( شیراز Shīrāz) is the fifth most populated city in Iran and the capital of Fars Province. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Shirazi traded along the coasts of East Africa, the Middle East, and India, and established colonies in the archipelago. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Arab influence increased with the ascendancy of Zanzibar under Arab Omani rule, and Comorian culture, especially architecture and religion, increasingly reflected Arab contact. Zanzibar ( is part of the East African republic of Tanzania. It consists of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman ( Arabic: سلطنة عُمان) is an Arab Country in Southwest Asia on the southeast Many rival sultanates were established in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Several Sultanates on the Comoros, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean with an ethnically complex mix were founded after the introduction of Islam into ^[10]

By the time Europeans showed interest in the Comoros, the dominant Arab cultural veneer of the islands led to many to emphasize the society's Arab foundations at the expense of its Swahili and African heritage. More recent scholarship by Thomas Spear and Randall Pouwells emphasizes African historical predominance over the diffusionist perspective. Michael Kirchner (born September 7, 1957) is a former professional wrestler who is most remembered for his characters Corporal Kirchner ^[11]

European contact and French colonization

Portuguese explorers first visited the archipelago in 1505. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian

In 1793, Malagasy warriors from Madagascar first started raiding the islands for slaves, and later settled and seized control in many locations. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern France first established colonial rule in the Comoros in 1841. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism The first French colonists landed in Mayotte, and Andrian Tsouli, the Malagasy King of Mayotte, signed the Treaty of April 1841, which ceded the island to the French authorities. ^[12] In 1886, Mohéli was placed under French protection by its Queen Salimba Mochimba. That same year, after consolidating his authority over all of Grande Comore, Sultan Said Ali agreed to French protection of his island, though he retained sovereignty until 1909. Also in 1909, Sultan Said Muhamed of Anjouan abdicated in favor of French rule. The Comoros (or Les Comores) was officially made a French colony in 1912, and the islands were placed under the administration of the French colonial governor general of Madagascar in 1914. ^[13]

The Comoros served as a way station for merchants sailing to the Far East and India until the opening of the Suez Canal significantly reduced traffic passing through the Mozambique Channel. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Suez Canal is a Canal in Egypt. Opened in 1869 it allows Water transportation between Europe and Asia without circumnavigation The only native commodities exported by the Comoros were coconuts. The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family French settlers, French-owned companies, and wealthy Arab merchants established a plantation-based economy that now uses about one-third of the land for export crops. After its annexation, France converted Mayotte into a sugar plantation colony. The other islands were soon transformed as well, and the major crops of ylang-ylang, vanilla, coffee, cocoa, and sisal were introduced. Ylang-ylang (ˈiːlæŋˈʔiːlæŋ (ee-lang ee-lang Cananga odorata, is a small flower of the Cananga tree Vanilla is a Flavoring derived from Orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. CoFFEE is an Open source Software for computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL in a digital classroom Cocoa is the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree from which Chocolate is made Sisal or sisal hemp is an Agave Agave sisalana that yields a stiff Fiber used in making Rope. ^[14]

Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for Comoros to become independent in 1978. On July 6, 1975, however, the Comorian parliament passed a unilateral resolution declaring independence. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The deputies of Mayotte, which remained under French control, abstained. Referendums on all four of the islands excluding Mayotte showed strong support for independence. Ahmed Abdallah proclaimed the Comoros' independence on September 5, 1975 and became its first president. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Independence

The next 30 years were a period of political turmoil. On August 3, 1975, mercenary Bob Denard, with clandestine support from Jacques Foccart and the French government, removed president Ahmed Abdallah from office in an armed coup and replaced him with United National Front of the Comoros (UNF) member Prince Said Mohammed Jaffar. Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "Colonel" Bob Denard ( April 7, 1929 &ndash October 13, 2007) born Gilbert Bourgeaud, was one of the most famous and Jacques Foccart ( 31 August 1913 – 19 March 1997) was French President Charles de Gaulle 's and then Georges Pompidou 's Ahmed Abdallah Abderemane (أحمد عبد الله عبد الرحمن Ahmad Abd Allah Abd ar-Rahman, 12 June, 1919 &ndash 26 November Said Mohamed Jaffar ( 14 April 1918 &ndash 22 October 1993) was a former president of The Comoros from August 1975 until January 1976 Months later, in January 1976, Jaffar was ousted in favor of his Minister of Defense Ali Soilih. Ali Soilih ( January 7 1937 - May 29 1978) was a Comorian socialist revolutionary and political figure ^[15] At this time, the population of Mayotte voted against independence from France in two referendums. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita The first, held in December 1974, won 63. 8% support for maintaining ties with France, while the second, held in February 1976, confirmed that vote with an overwhelming 99. 4%. The three remaining islands, ruled by President Soilih, instituted a number of socialist and isolationist policies that soon strained relations with France. Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution On May 13, 1978, Bob Denard returned to overthrow President Soilih and re-instate Abdallah with the support of the French and South African governments. Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa During Soilih's brief rule, he faced seven additional coup attempts until he was finally forced from office and killed. ^[15]

In contrast to Soilih, Abdallah's presidency was marked by authoritarian rule and increased adherence to traditional Islam. ^[16] He continued as president until 1989 when, fearing a probable coup d'état, he signed a decree ordering the Presidential Guard, led by Bob Denard, to disarm the armed forces. Shortly after the signing of the decree, Abdallah was allegedly shot dead in his office by a disgruntled military officer, though later sources claim an anti-tank missile launched into his bedroom killed him. ^[17] Although Denard was also injured, it is suspected that Abdallah's killer was a soldier under his command. ^[18] A few days later, Bob Denard was evacuated to South Africa by French paratroopers. Said Mohamed Djohar, Soilih's older half-brother, then became president and served until September 1995 when Bob Denard returned and attempted another coup. This time France intervened with paratroopers and forced Denard to surrender. ^[19][20] The French removed Djohar to Reunion, and the Paris-backed Mohamed Taki Abdulkarim became president by election. Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim ( 1936 - 6 November 1998) was President of the Comoros from 25 March 1996 until his death on He led the country from 1996, during a time of labor crises, government suppression, and secessionist conflicts, until his death November 1998. He was succeeded by Interim President Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde. Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde ( Arabic:تاج الدين بن سعيد مسوندي born 1938 - died 1 March 2004) was a Comorian politician ^[21]

The islands of Anjouan and Mohéli declared their independence from the Comoros in 1997, in an attempt to restore French rule. Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous Island of the Union of Comoros. Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. But France rejected their request, leading to bloody confrontations between federal troops and rebels. ^[22] In April 1999, Colonel Azali Assoumani, Army Chief of Staff, seized power in a bloodless coup, overthrowing the Interim President Massounde, citing weak leadership in the face of the crisis. This was the Comoros' 18th coup d'état since independence in 1975. ^[23] But Azali failed to consolidate power and reestablish control over the islands, which was the subject of international criticism. The African Union, under the auspices of President Mbeki of South Africa, imposed sanctions on Anjouan to help broker negotiations and effect reconciliation. The African Union (abbreviated AU in English, and UA in its other working languages is a Confederation consisting of 53  African ^[24][25] This involved introducing a new system of governmental autonomy for each island, plus a Union government for the three islands.

Azali stepped down in 2002 to run in the democratic election of the President of the Comoro Union, which he won. Under ongoing international pressure, as a military ruler who had originally come to power by force and was not always democratic while in office, Azali led the Union through constitutional changes that enabled new elections. ^[26] A "Loi des compétences" law was passed in early 2005 that defines the responsibilities of each governmental body, and is in the process of implementation. The elections in 2006 were won by Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, a Sunni Muslim Cleric nick-named the "Ayatollah" for his time spent studying Islam in Iran. Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi (أحمد عبدالله محمد سامبي born 5 June 1958 in Mutsamudu, Anjouan Island Comoros) Azali honored the election results, thus allowing the first peaceful and democratic exchange of power for the archipelago. ^[27]

Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, the current President, on an election poster.

Colonel Mohammed Bacar, a French-trained former gendarme, seized power as President in Anjouan in 2001. He staged a vote in June 2007 to confirm his leadership that was rejected as illegal by the Comoros federal government and the African Union. On March 25, 2008 hundreds of soldiers from the African Union and Comoros seized rebel-held Anjouan, generally welcomed by the population. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Some rebels were killed and injured, but there are no official figures. At least 11 civilians were wounded. Some officials were imprisoned. Bacar fled in a speedboat to the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte to seek asylum. Anti-French protests followed in Comoros (see 2008 invasion of Anjouan). The invasion of Anjouan (code-named Operation Democracy in Comoros) on March 25 2008 was an amphibious assault led by the Comoros, backed

Since independence from France, the Comoros experienced more than 20 coups or attempted coups. ^[28]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Comoros

Map of Comoros

The Comoros is formed by Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli), Nzwani (Anjouan), and Mahoré (Mayotte), the major islands in the Comoros Archipelago, as well as many minor islets. The Comoros archipelago consists Grande Comore (officially called Ngazidja and also known as Ngasidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous Island of the Union of Comoros. The islands are officially known by their Comorian language names, though international sources still use their French names (in parentheses) commonly. The capital and largest city, Moroni, is located on Ngazidja. The archipelago is situated in the Indian Ocean, in the Mozambique Channel, between the African coast (nearest to Mozambique and Tanzania) and Madagascar, with no land borders. The Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean between the island of Madagascar and southeast Africa, namely Mozambique. Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa Tanzania ˌtænzəˈniːə officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern At 2,235 km² (863 sq mi), it is one of the smallest countries in the world. The Comoros also has claim to 320 km² (124 sq mi) of territorial seas. The interiors of the islands vary from steep mountains to low hills. The climate is generally tropical and mild, and the two major seasons are distinguishable by their relative raininess. The temperature reaches an average of 29-30°C (84-86°F) in March, the hottest month in the rainy season (December to April), and an average low of 19°C (66°F) in the cool, dry season (May to November). ^[29] The islands are subject to cyclones during rainy season which are strong enough to devastate the infrastructure about twice every decade.

Ngazidja is the largest of the Comoros Archipelago, approximately equal in area to the other islands combined. It is also the most recent island, and therefore has rocky soil. The island's two volcanoes, Karthala and La Grille, and the lack of good harbors are distinctive characteristics of its terrain. Mwali, with its capital at Fomboni, is the smallest of the four major islands. Fomboni (population 15000 is the third largest city in the Comoros. Nzwani, whose capital is Mutsamudu, has a distinctive triangular shape caused by three mountain chains, Sima, Nioumakele, and Jimilime, emanating from a central peak, Mtingui (1,575 m, 5,177 ft). Mutsamudu (population 23600 is the second largest city in the Comoros, founded in 1482 The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The oldest of the islands, Mahoré has the richest soil as well as good harbors and local fish populations, due to its ring of coral reefs. Dzaoudzi, a previous capital of all the colonial Comoros, is located on Pamanzi, (French: Petite-Terre), the largest islet of Mahoré. Dzaoudzi is a commune in the French overseas collectivity of Mayotte, in the Indian Ocean. Pamanzi, known as Petite-Terre (literally "Little Land" in French, is an Island just off Mayotte, and is the second largest island French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Mahoré's current capital is at Mamoudzou. Mamoudzou is the Capital of the French overseas collectivity of Mayotte, in the Indian Ocean. The term Mayotte (or Mahoré) may also refer to the group of islands, of which the largest is known as Mahoré (French: Grande-Terre), and it includes Mahoré's surrounding islands, most notably Pamanzi (Petite-Terre). French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people

Satellite view of Mount Karthala after a Nov. 2005 eruption. Ash obscures the islands (outlined).

The islands of the Comoros Archipelago were formed by volcanic activity. Mount Karthala, an active shield volcano located on Ngazidja, is the country's highest point, at 2,361 m or 7748 ft. Karthala is an active Volcano and the highest point of the Comoros at above sea level A shield volcano is a large Volcano with shallow-sloping sides It contains the Comoros' largest patch of its disappearing rainforest. Karthala is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, with a minor eruption in May 2006, and prior eruptions as recently as April 2005 and 1991. In the 2005 eruption, which lasted from April 17 to 19, 40,000 citizens were evacuated, and the crater lake in the volcano's 3 by 4 km (2 by 2½ mi) caldera was destroyed. Crater Lake is a Caldera Lake located in the US state of Oregon.

The Comoros also lays claim to the Glorioso Islands, comprised of Grande Glorieuse, Île du Lys, Wreck Rock, South Rock, Verte Rocks (three islets), and three unnamed islets, one of France's Îles Éparses or Îles éparses de l'océan indien (Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean) possessions. Glorieuses or Glorioso Islands ( French: Îles Glorieuses or officially also Archipel des Glorieuses) are a group of French islands The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean ( French: Îles Éparses or Îles éparses de l'océan indien) consist of four small coral islands and an atoll The Glorioso Islands were administered by the colonial Comoros before 1975, and are therefore sometimes considered part of the Comoros Archipelago. Banc du Geyser, a former island in the Comoros Archipelago, now submerged, is geographically located in the Îles Éparses, but was annexed by Madagascar in 1976 as an unclaimed territory. Banc du Geysir (also Banc du Geyser) is a mostly submerged Reef in the Mozambique Channel 's northeastern part 125 km northeast from Mayotte The Comoros now claims it as part of its exclusive economic zone.

Government

Main article: Politics of Comoros

Politics of the Union of the Comoros takes place in a framework of a federal presidential republic, whereby the President of the Comoros is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Politics of the Union of the Comoros takes place in a framework of a federal presidential Republic, whereby the President of the Comoros is both A federation ( Latin: foedus, covenant is a union comprising a number of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central ("federal" A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its List of Heads of State of the Comoros (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office Affiliations Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State A multi-party system is a system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition The Constitution of the Union of the Comoros was ratified by referendum on December 23, 2001, and the islands' constitutions and executives were elected in the following months. Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. It had previously been considered a military dictatorship, and the transfer of power from Azali Assoumani to Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi in May 2006 was the first peaceful transfer in Comorian history. Executive power is exercised by the government. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The preamble of the constitution guarantees an Islamic inspiration in governance, a commitment to human rights, and several specific enumerated rights, democracy, "a common destiny" for all Comorians. Each of the islands (according to Title II of the Constitution) has a great amount of autonomy in the Union, including having their own constitutions (or Fundamental Law), president, and Parliament. The presidency and Assembly of the Union are distinct from each of the Islands' governments. The presidency of the Union rotates between the islands. ^[30] Anjouan holds the current presidency rotation, and so Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi is President of the Union; Mohéli and Ngazidja follow in four year terms. ^[31]

The Comorian legal system rests on Islamic law and an inherited French (Napoleonic code) legal code. The three major legal systems of the world today consist of civil law, Common law and Religious law. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Napoleonic Code, or Code Napoléon (originally called the Code civil des Français) is the French Civil code, established under Village elders or civilian courts settle most disputes. The judiciary is independent of the legislative and the executive. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation The Supreme Court acts as a Constitutional Council in resolving constitutional questions and supervising presidential elections. As High Court of Justice, the Supreme Court also arbitrates in cases where the government is accused of malpractice. The Supreme Court consists of two members selected by the president, two elected by the Federal Assembly, and one by the council of each island. ^[30]

Military

The military resources of the Comoros consist of a small standing army and a 500-member police force, as well as a 500-member defense force. A defense treaty with France provides naval resources for protection of territorial waters, training of Comorian military personnel, and air surveillance. France maintains a small troop presence in Comoros at government request. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. France maintains a small maritime base and a Foreign Legion Detachment (DLEM) on Mayotte. See also Military of Comoros. The military resources of the Comoros (Armée nationale de développement consist of a small standing army and a 500-member police force as well as a 500-member defense force

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Comoros

In November 1975, Comoros became the 143rd member of the United Nations. In November 1975 Comoros became the 143rd member of the United Nations. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The new nation was defined as comprising the entire archipelago, although France continues to maintain control over the island of Mayotte as an overseas collectivity. An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The French overseas collectivities ( collectivités d'outre-mer or COM) like the French regions, themselves are first-order Administrative divisions ^[32] Comoros has repeatedly pressed its claim to the island before the United Nations General Assembly, which adopted a series of resolutions under the caption "Question of the Comorian Island of Mayotte", opining that Mayotte belongs to Comoros under the principle that the territorial integrity of colonial territories should be preserved upon independence. Membership For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly see General Assembly members As a practical matter, however, these resolutions have little effect and there is no foreseeable likelihood that Mayotte will become de facto part of Comoros without its people's consent. More recently, the Assembly has maintained this item on its agenda but deferred it from year to year without taking action. Other bodies, including the UN General Assembly, the Organization of African Unity, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, have similarly questioned French sovereignty over Mayotte. The Organisation of African Unity ( OAU) or Organisation de l'Unité Africaine ( OUA) was established on 25 May 1963. The Non-Aligned Movement ( NAM) is an International organization of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC is an International organization with a permanent delegation to the United Nations. ^[33][3]

Comoros also is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, the European Development Fund, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Indian Ocean Commission, and the African Development Bank. The African Union (abbreviated AU in English, and UA in its other working languages is a Confederation consisting of 53  African The Arab League ( الجامعة العربية) officially called the League of Arab States ( جامعة الدول العربية The European Development Fund (EDF is the main instrument for European Community aid for development cooperation in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic The Indian Ocean Commission ( COI) known as the Commission de l'Océan Indien in French, is an intergovernmental organization that joins Comoros The African Development Bank ( ADB) is a development bank established in 1964 with the intention of promoting economic and social development in Africa.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Comoros

Comoros is one of the poorest countries in the world. One of the world's poorest countries Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links a young and rapidly increasing population and few natural resources Economic growth and poverty reduction are major priorities for the government. Poverty reduction (or poverty alleviation) is any process which seeks to reduce the level of Poverty in a community or amongst a group of people or countries With a rate of 14. 3%, unemployment is considered very high. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy, and 38. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. Hunting is the practice of pursuing Animals for Food, Recreation, or Trade. Forestry is the Art and Science of managing forests tree Plantations and related Natural resources. 4% of the working population is employed in the primary sector. High population densities, as much as 1000 per square kilometer in the densest agricultural zones, for what is still a mostly rural, agricultural economy may lead to an environmental crisis in the near future, especially considering the high rate of population growth. The Comoros' real GDP growth was a low 1. 9% in 2004 and real GDP per capita was continuing declining annually in 2004. These declines are explained by factors including declining investment, drops in consumption, rising inflation, and an increase in trade imbalance due in part to lowered cash crop prices, especially vanilla. ^[34]

Comoros has an inadequate transportation system, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. Agriculture contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. Comoros is the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang, and a large producer of vanilla. Ylang-ylang (ˈiːlæŋˈʔiːlæŋ (ee-lang ee-lang Cananga odorata, is a small flower of the Cananga tree Vanilla is a Flavoring derived from Orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. ^[35]

The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate.

The Comoros claims the Banc du Geyser and the Glorioso Islands as part of its exclusive economic zone. Banc du Geysir (also Banc du Geyser) is a mostly submerged Reef in the Mozambique Channel 's northeastern part 125 km northeast from Mayotte Glorieuses or Glorioso Islands ( French: Îles Glorieuses or officially also Archipel des Glorieuses) are a group of French islands

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Comoros

With fewer than a million people, the Comoros is one of the least populous countries in the world, but is also one of the most densely populated, with an average of 275 people per km² (712 people per sq mi). The Comorians inhabiting Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli (86% of the population share African-Arab origins In 2001, 34% of the population was considered urban, but that is expected to grow, since rural population growth is negative, while overall population growth is still relatively high. ^[36] Major urban centers include Moroni, Mutsamudu, Domoni, Fomboni, and Tsémbéhou. Mutsamudu (population 23600 is the second largest city in the Comoros, founded in 1482 Domoni (population 14500 is the second largest city on the Comorian island of Anjouan. Fomboni (population 15000 is the third largest city in the Comoros. Tsimbeo (or Tsémbehou) is a town located on the island of Anjouan in the Comoros.

The islands of the Comoros share mostly African-Arab origins. Sunni Islam is the dominant religion, representing as much as 98% of the population. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic According to the 2006 estimate by the US Department of State, roughly 98% of the population in the Comoros are Muslim. Although Arab culture is firmly established throughout the archipelago, a minority of the citizens of Mayotte (the Mahorais) are Roman Catholic and have been strongly influenced by French culture. The Roman Catholic Church in Comoros is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Curia in ^[37] Malagasy and Indian minorities also exist, as well as Creole-speaking minorities mostly descended from Réunionnaise. The Malagasy ( French: Malgache) ethnic group forms the vast majority of the population of Madagascar. The Ethno-linguistic composition of the population of South Asia, that is the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal Réunion ( French: Réunion or formally La Réunion; previously Île Bourbon) is an island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Chinese peoples are also present on Mayotte and parts of Grande Comore (especially Moroni). The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China (including Hong

The most common language is Comorian, or Shikomor, a descendant of Swahili with Arabic influences. Comorian ( Shikomor) is the most widely used language on the Comoros (independent islands in the Indian Ocean, off Mozambique and Madagascar Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches Shingazidja, Shimwali, Shinzwani, and Shimaore are the local dialects spoken on each of the islands, Ngazidja, Mwali, Nzwani, and Mahoré, respectively. French and Arabic are also official languages, along with Comorian. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Arabic is widely known as a second language, being the language of Quranic teaching, and French is the language of all other formal education. Malagasy is also spoken by a small number of Malagasy immigrants. This article is about the Malagasy language For the Malagasy ethnic group see Malagasy people. ^[38] About fifty-seven percent of the population is literate in the Latin alphabet, more with the Arabic alphabet; total literacy is estimated at 62. The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing several languages of Asia and Africa such as Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. 5%. ^[39] Comorian has no native script, but both Arabic and Latin scripts have been used.

Media and culture

See also: Holidays in Comoros, Islam in Comoros, and Music of Comoros

Almost all of the educated populace of the Comoros has attended Quranic schools at some point in their life, often before regular schooling. This is a list of Holidays in the Comoros According to the 2006 estimate by the US Department of State, roughly 98% of the population in the Comoros are Muslim. Comoros is a group of Islands in the Indian Ocean, most an independent nation but also including the French territory of Mayotte. "Madrasa" and "Medrese" redirect here For the village in Azerbaijan see Mədrəsə. Here boys and girls are taught about the Quran, and memorize it. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Some parents specifically choose this early schooling to offset French schools children usually attend later. Since independence and the ejection of French teachers, the education system has been plagued by poor teacher training and poor results, though recent stability may allow for substantial improvements. ^[16]

Comorian (Shikomori) is the most widely used language on the Comoros. Comorian ( Shikomor) is the most widely used language on the Comoros (independent islands in the Indian Ocean, off Mozambique and Madagascar It is a close relative of Swahili with a very strong Arabic influence, and is one of the three official languages of the Comoros, next to French and Arabic. Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Each island has a slightly different dialect; that of Anjouan is called Shindzuani, that of Moheli Shimwali, that of Mayotte Shimaore, and that of Grande Comore Shingazidja. Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous Island of the Union of Comoros. Shimaore ( French also Mahorais) is one of the two indigeneous languages spoken in the French -ruled Comorian islands of No official alphabet existed in 1992, but Arabic and Latin scripts were both used. An official script is a script that is specifically designated to be official in the Constitutions or other applicable Laws of countries, The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing several languages of Asia and Africa such as Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.

There is no national newspaper in Comoros; the leading regional paper is Al-Watwan published on Grande Comore; Kwezi is also published on Mayotte. A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. Grande Comore (officially called Ngazidja and also known as Ngasidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. Radio Comoros is the national radio service and Comoros National TV is the television service.

See also

• Communications in Comoros
• List of notable Comorians
• Heads of state of Comoros
• List of current Comorian islands presidents
• Transportation in Comoros
• Wezombeli
• Flag of the Comoros

References

This article incorporates text from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which is in the public domain. In large part thanks to international aid programs Moroni has international telecommunications service This is a list of notable people from the Comoros. Abou Chihabi, musician Al Moustoifa Idarousse, musician Wanamah List of Heads of State of the Comoros (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office Affiliations This is a list of the three current Comorian islands presidents There are a number of systems of transport in Comoros. Comoros possesses 880km of Highway, of which 673km are paved Wezombeli, the national Scouting organization of the Comoros, was founded in 1975 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement The current flag of Comoros was designed in 2001 and adopted on January 7, 2002. The Library of Congress is the De facto National library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone

Further reading

• The Comoros Islands: Struggle Against Dependency in the Indian Ocean Malyn Newitt
• Historical Dictionary of the Comoro Islands Martin and Harriet Ottenheimer
• Shinzwani-English/English-Shinzwani Dictionary Harriet Ottenheimer
• Lonely Planet World Guide: Madagascar and Comoros Gemma Pitcher and Patricia C. Wright

External links

• Wikimedia Atlas of Comoros
• Official site of the President of Comoros
• Drs. Martin and Harriet Ottenheimer - Comoro Islands
• BBC News - Country Profile: Comores
• CIA World Factbook - Comoros
• US State Department - Comoros includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
• al-Bab - Comoros directory category
• Columbia University Libraries - Angola directory category of the WWW-VL
• Stanford University - Africa South of the Sahara: Comoros directory category
• The Index on Africa - Comoros directory category
• Comoros travel guide from Wikitravel
• Government of Anjouan