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 Comoros
& Mayotte Travel Tips |
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Find important informations
about Comoros & Mayotte
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| OVERVIEW |
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Comoros was frequented by travelers from Africa, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Arabia before the first Europeans encountered the islands. Arabic influence has been the strongest.
France colonized Mayotte in 1843 and by 1904 had annexed the remainder of the archipelago. In a 1974 referendum, 95% of the population voted for independence. The exception was Mayotte, which, with its Christian majority, voted against joining the other mainly Islamic islands in independence. Today it remains a French overseas territory.
The remaining Comoros Islands declared themselves independent on July 6, 1975, with Ahmed Abdallah as president. A month after independence, he was overthrown by Justice Minister Ali Soilih. This was only the beginning of Comoros's chronic instability: the country has gone through more than 20 coups since independence and has experienced several attempts at secession. Orchestrating at least four of these coups was a group of white mercenaries known as Les Affreux (The Terrible Ones), and their notorious leader, Frenchman “Colonel” Bob Denard. Denard fled Comoros in 1989, when 3,000 French soldiers were sent after him.
In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May 2002.
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| GEOGRAPHY |
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The Comoros Islands—Grande Comoro (Ngazidja), Anjouan, Mohéli, and Mayotte (which is not part of the country and retains ties to France)—constitute an archipelago of volcanic origin in the Indian Ocean, 190 mi off the coast of Mozambique.
Location: |
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique |
Coordinates: |
12 10 S, 44 15 E |
Area: |
total: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km |
Area comparative: |
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries: |
0 km |
Coastline: |
340 km |
Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
Climate: |
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) |
Terrain: |
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills |
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m |
Natural resources: |
Negligible |
Natural hazards: |
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano |
Environment - current issues: |
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
Geography - note: |
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel |
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| POPULATION |
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Population: |
690,948 (July 2006 est.) |
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 148,009/female 147,038)
15-64 years: 54.3% (male 185,107/female 190,139)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,672/female 10,983) |
Median age: |
18.6 years |
Growth rate: |
2.87% |
Infant mortality: |
72.85 deaths/1,000 live births |
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 62.33 years
male: 60 years
female: 64.72 years |
Total fertility rate: |
5.03 children born/woman |
Nationality: |
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran |
Ethnic groups: |
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava |
Religions: |
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% |
Languages: |
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) |
Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% |
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| GOVERNMENT |
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Country name: |
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
local short form: Comores
local long form: Union des Comores |
Government type: |
independent republic |
Capital: |
Moroni |
Administrative divisions: |
3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou |
Independence: |
6 July 1975 (from France) |
National holiday: |
Independence Day, 6 July (1975) |
Constitution: |
23 December 2001
note: a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on 20 January 2002 following the passing of the new constitution; the GUNT governed until the presidential elections on 14 April 2002 |
Legal system: |
French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code |
Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch: |
chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three main islands in the Union; prime minister appointed by the president |
Legislative branch: |
unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the 18 by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years) |
Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic). |
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| ECONOMY |
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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. 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. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate.
GDP/PPP: (2002 est.) $441 million; per capita $600. Real growth rate: 3%. Inflation: 3% (2005 est.). Unemployment: 20% (1996 est.). Arable land: 36%. Agriculture: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca). Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.): agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%. Industries: tourism, perfume distillation. Natural resources: negl. Exports: $34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra. Imports: $115 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment. Major trading partners: U.S., France, Singapore, Turkey, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, UAE, Italy, Pakistan, Mauritius (2004).
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