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Comoros
Moroni • Mutsamudu • Fomboni • Domoni • Sima • Adda-Doueni • Ouani • Bazimini • Mitsamiouli • Hahaya-Aeroport • Wanani • Djoiezi •
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THE COMOROS COAT OF ARMS
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 Location of Comoros within the continent of Africa | |||
 Map of Comoros | |||
 Flag Description of Comoros:The somewhat new Comoros flag was officially adopted in 1993. The crescent, stars and the color green are traditional symbols of Islam. The horizontal stripes and the four stars represent the country's main islands of Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwai and Mayotte. Note that Mayotte is a territory of France, but claimed by Comoros. | |||
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OFFICIAL NAME:
Union of the Comoros
Form of government republic2 with one legislative house (Assembly of the Union [333])
Head of state and government President: Ikililou Dhoinine, assisted by Vice Presidents: Mohamed Ali Soilihi, Nourdine Bourhane, and Fouad Mohadji
Capital Moronir>
Official languages1 Comorian (Shikomor); Arabic; French
Official religion Islam
Monetary unit Comorian franc (CF)
Population (2013 est.) 752,0004COLLAPSE
Total area (sq mi) 7195
Total area (sq km) 1,8625
Urban-rural population
- Urban: (2011) 28.3%
- Rural: (2011) 71.7%
Life expectancy at birth
- Male: (2010) 59.8 years
- Female: (2010) 64.2 years
Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate
- Male: (2010) 80.2%
- Female: (2010) 69.7%
GNI per capita (U.S.$) 2013) 880
13 languages are official per 2001 constitution.
2A constitutional referendum effective from May 23, 2009, returned greater powers to the central government.
3Includes 9 indirectly elected seats.
4Excludes Comorians living abroad in France or Mayotte (about 150,000 people).
5Excludes Mayotte, an overseas possession of France.
BACKGROUND OF COMOROS
Comoros, an independent state comprising three of the islands of the Comorian archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. A fourth island of the Comorian archipelago, Mayotte, is claimed by the country of Comoros but administered by France.
The volcanic islands of the Comorian archipelago have been called the “perfumed islands” for their fragrant plant life and are known for their great scenic beauty. The four main islands of the archipelago—“four small effervescent stones, wedged between the nearby large red island [Madagascar] and the Mozambican coast,” in the words of the Comorian writer Sitti Saïd Youssouf—combine African, Arabic, Malagasy, and French influences and were once important in the significant Indian Ocean trade between East Africa and Asian ports such as India and Japan.
Although the early history of the islands is uncertain, they are thought to have been explored by Arab and Persian traders in antiquity and, like Madagascar, settled by small numbers of Malayo-Indonesian peoples, gaining a sizable population only when Bantu-speaking peoples from the African mainland settled there. Shīrāzi Persians are thought to have arrived later, establishing Sunni Islam as the dominant religion. The ensuing Shīrāzi sultanates established trade relations with other countries along the Indian Ocean and developed a thriving economy based on the sale of spices and slaves. The opening of the Suez Canal substantially lessened the islands’ importance as an entrepôt, though not their strategic value. European colonial powers agreed that the Comorian archipelago would come under French rule in 1886–87, and it became an overseas territory of France in 1947. Three of the islands gained independence in 1975.
Comoros is poor, witnessing an ongoing exodus of educated and skilled workers to France and a steady decline in gross domestic product. The capital, Moroni, located on the island of Ngazidja, has most of the modern commercial and manufacturing facilities located in the country; in the absence of other possibilities, most islanders must rely on subsistence farming. With miles of beautiful beaches, tourists have always been drawn to Comoros. The islands’ history of political unrest, however, has hampered efforts to promote tourism.
GEOGRAHY OF COMOROS
- Area: 2,171 sq. km. (838 sq. mi.); slightly less than half the size of Delaware.
- Major islands--Grande Comore (1,025 sq. km.), Anjouan (424 sq. km.), Mayotte (374 sq. km.), and Moheli (211 sq. km.).
- Cities: Capital--Moroni (pop. 30,000); Mutsamudu (pop. 20,000).
- Terrain: Rugged.
- Climate: Tropical marine.
People
- Nationality: Noun and adjective--Comoran(s).
- Population (2008 est.): 731,775. Mayotte (1990 est.)--70,000.
- Annual growth rate (2008 est.): 2.803%.
- Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava.
- Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%.
- Languages: Shikomoro (a Swahili-Arabic blend), Arabic (official), French (official).
- Education: Attendance--60% primary, 34% secondary. Literacy--56.5%.
- Health: Life expectancy--63.1 yrs. Infant mortality rate--68.58/1,000.
- Work force (1996): 144,500. Agriculture--80%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: July 6, 1975 (Mayotte remains under French administration).
Constitution: Adopted by referendum on December 23, 2001.
Branches:
- Executive--national president; regional island presidents.
- Legislative--National Assembly.
- Judicial--traditional Muslim and codified law from French sources.
Political parties: 17 political parties.
Suffrage: Universal adult.
The Land' The Comoros are a group of islands at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, about 180 miles (290 km) off the eastern coast of Africa. The islands from northwest to southeast include Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli), Nzwani (Anjouan), and Mayotte (Maoré).
- Relief, drainage, and soils
The islands emerged from the floor of the Indian Ocean as a result of volcanic activity. Coral reefs provide occasional barriers to the rolling seas of the Indian Ocean, and breakers mark some of the world’s best diving areas. Along the seashore broad expanses of open, sandy beaches are interrupted by isolated groups of coconut palms or mangrove trees. A few coastal areas are distinguished by the harsh, dark tangle of recent lava flows, while others are covered by smoothly rounded rocks, eroded reminders of ancient volcanic activity.
Ngazidja is the largest and loftiest island; it rises near its southern end in an active volcano, Mount Karthala, which at 7,746 feet (2,361 metres) is the country’s highest point. Karthala has erupted more than a dozen times in the last two centuries. The capital, Moroni, lies in the shadow of the volcano along the island’s west coast; the town of Mitsamiouli lies on the north coast. North of Mount Karthala is a wide plateau averaging 2,000 feet (600 metres) in elevation. The surface is generally rocky and the soils shallow. There are no perennial streams, and the coast, without large inlets, is ill-suited for shipping.
Mwali is the smallest island of the group. Composed largely of a plateau that averages about 1,000 feet (300 metres) in elevation, the island ends in the west in a ridge reaching more than 2,�{:�feet (790 metres) above sea level. The valleys are generally fertile, and the hillsides are covered with thick forests. A strong sea swell hampers shipping. Mwali’s chief towns are Fomboni on the northern coast and Nioumachoua in the southwest.
Nzwani is a triangular island rising centrally in a volcanic massif (Mount Ntingui) that reaches an elevation of about 5,200 feet (1,580 metres). Although the soil cover is good, much erosion has occurred, and many areas are no longer arable. There are no good natural harbours. Mutsamudu, on the northwest coast, is the chief town; its port facilities were modernized in the mid-1980s.
Southeast of Nzwani lies Mayotte, the oldest of the four islands. It is claimed by Comoros (a claim recognized by the United Nations General Assembly), but its status is unsettled, and it continues to be a de facto dependency of France.
- Climate
The tropical climate has two clearly marked seasons: a cooler, dry period between May and October and a warmer, humid season between November and April. In November the summer monsoon (kashkazi) brings the highest afternoon temperatures—about 91 °F (33 °C). The highest monthly rainfall occurs in January with about 11–15 inches (275–375 mm), and the rainy season is the season of greatest tropical-cyclone frequency. Dry season daily maximum temperatures fall to their lowest, about 84 °F (29 °C), in July. The average annual rainfall varies between 43 and 114 inches (1,100 and 2,900 mm), being highest on the windward northeast sides of the islands.
Rain sinks so deeply into the hardened lava and porous rocks of Ngazidja that wells are difficult to drill. Traditionally, most of Ngazidja’s water supply has come from reservoirs filled in the rainy season and from freshwater springs along the coasts (foumbous).
- Plant and animal life
Less than one-sixth of the land remains covered with forest, and rapid deforestation caused mainly by domestic firewood consumption threatens to reduce the islands’ forested land still more. A coastal zone of mangroves is followed inland by one of coconut palms, mangoes, and bananas up to about 1,300 feet (400 metres), above which a forest zone rises to about 5,900 feet (1,800 metres). Mahogany trees and orchids are primarily limited to the rugged slopes of the mountains. On the highest peaks only broom, heather, and lichens grow. Additional aromatic plants such as frangipani (Plumeria), jasmine, and lemongrass lend a delightful fragrance to the islands.
Animal life, which is similar to that of Madagascar, includes land birds (guinea fowl and egrets) and species of both lemurs and fruit bats that are peculiar to the islands. Turtles abound along the coasts and are exported. The Comorian waters are one of the habitats of the coelacanth, a rare fish once thought to be extinct, the fossil remains of which date to about 400 million years ago. Besides these unique species, the islands are also home to civets, small lizards, and giant land crabs. The expanding human population has put a number of wildlife species under threat of extinction.
DEMOGRAPHY OF COMOROS
The Comorans inhabiting Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli (86% of the population) share African-Arab origins. Islam is the dominant religion, and Koranic schools for children reinforce its influence. Although Arab culture is firmly established throughout the archipelago, a substantial minority of the citizens of Mayotte (the Mahorais) are Catholic and have been strongly influenced by French culture.
The most common language is Shikomoro, a Swahili dialect. French and Arabic also are spoken. About 57% of the population is literate.
The People
The islanders reflect a diversity of origins. Malay immigrants and Arab and Persian traders have mixed with peoples from Madagascar and with various African peoples. Most of the islands’ inhabitants speak island-specific varieties of Comorian (Shikomoro), a Bantu language related to Swahili and written in Arabic script. Comorian, Arabic, and French are the official languages; French is the language of administration. Most Comorians are Sunni Muslims, and Islam is the state religion. Some three-fourths of the people live in rural areas, and most of the population is centred on the two larger islands; Ngazidja contains about half of the country’s population, Nzwani about two-fifths, and Mwali less than one-tenth. The capital, Moroni, is the country’s most populous urban area. The birth and death rates are both high in Comoros, and, although infant mortality is a major problem, the population growth rate is about twice the world average. Almost half of the population is younger than age 15.
ECONOMY OF COMOROS
- GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.262 billion.
- Annual growth rate: 0.5%.
- Per capita income: $720.
- Agriculture (40% of GDP): Products--vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, banana, cassava, coconuts.
- Services (56% of GDP): Commerce, tourism.
- Industry (4% of GDP): Types--perfume distillation.
- Trade: Exports (1999 est.)--$7.9 million: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra. Major markets--France, Germany. Imports (1998 est.)--$35.84 million: rice, petroleum, meat, wheat flour, cotton textiles, cement.
- Major suppliers--France 38%, Pakistan 13%, Kenya 8%, South Africa 8%.
Comoros, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) per capita income of about $700, is among the world's poorest and least developed nations. Although the quality of the land differs from island to island, most of the widespread lava-encrusted soil formations are unsuited to agriculture. As a result, most of the inhabitants make their living from subsistence agriculture and fishing.
Agriculture, involving more than 80% of the population and 40% of the gross domestic product, provides virtually all foreign exchange earnings. Services including tourism, construction, and commercial activities constitute the remainder of the GDP. Plantations engage a large proportion of the population in producing the islands' major cash crops for export: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, and copra. Comoros is the world's leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang, used in manufacturing perfume. It also is the world's second-largest producer of vanilla. Principal food crops are coconuts, bananas, and cassava. Foodstuffs constitute 32% of total imports.
The country lacks the infrastructure necessary for development. Some villages are not linked to the main road system or at best are connected by tracks usable only by four-wheel-drive vehicles. The islands' ports are rudimentary, although a deepwater facility functions in Anjouan. Only small vessels can approach the existing quays in Moroni on Grande Comore, despite improvements. Long-distance, ocean-going ships must lie offshore and be unloaded by smaller boats; during the cyclone season, this procedure is dangerous, and ships are reluctant to call at the island. Most freight is sent first to Mombasa, Kenya or the island of Reunion and transshipped from there.
France, Comoros' major trading partner, finances small projects only. The United States receives a growing percentage of Comoros' exports but supplies only a negligible fraction of its imports (less than 1%).
Comoros has an international airport at Hahaya on Grande Comore. Comoros has its own currency, the Comorian Franc, which is currently valued at 361.4 CF = U.S. $1.
Comoros, which is one of the world’s poorest countries, has an economy based on subsistence agriculture and fishing. The country’s gross domestic product generally has grown at a rate slightly faster than the population but is among the lowest in the world. Since independence in 1975, aid from the European Union (EU), notably France, has been the major underpinning of the economy; Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Kuwait have also provided financial aid.
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Although corn (maize) and coconut cultivation and poultry projects (aimed at helping Comoros achieve self-sufficiency in food production) had been established by 1981, at the beginning of the 21st century the economy remained in poor condition, plagued by overpopulation, poor harvests, and severe unemployment. Subsistence agriculture yields cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, and mountain (dry-field) rice, but much of the country’s food must be imported. Chickens, goats, cattle, and sheep are also raised. Plantations cultivating vanilla (mostly on Ngazidja and Nzwani), perfume plants (particularly ylang-ylang on Nzwani), coconuts (mostly on Mwali), coffee, cloves, and cacao cover much of the islands. Forestry contributes somewhat to total agricultural production, but the forested areas have been severely reduced because of a lack of cultivable land and as a result of ylang-ylang production.
Because Comoros is made up of islands, fishing should be a significant part of the market economy. Its potential has yet to be fully realized, however. The industry exists only on a small scale, and the abundant tuna that inhabit Comorian waters have so far been fished largely by EU countries. Coelecanth fish that are caught there provide some income to Comorian fishermen.
- Resources, power, and manufacturing
Utilities were privatized in 1997. Although there are hydroelectric power plants, the islands still suffer from an unreliable supply of water and power. Manufacturing generally is limited to the processing of agricultural products—primarily vanilla, essential oils, cloves, and copra—for export. There are also sawmills and woodworking establishments.
- Finance and trade
The Central Bank of Comoros (Banque Centrale des Comores) issues the country’s currency, the Comoros franc. There is commercial and development banking in Moroni.
Imports, of much higher value than exports, include rice, petroleum, meat, iron and steel, and cement. France is the country’s main trading partner for both exports and imports.
- Services
Several hotels, primarily on Ngazidja, service a small but growing tourist industry. The development of this sector is linked to political stability, however. Tourists come mainly from France, Réunion, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
- Transportation and telecommunications
Most of the islands’ roads are usable throughout the year. There is an international airport near Moroni on Ngazidja. Commercial airlines provide air links with Dubayy, Paris, Réunion, and Johannesburg. A port was built at Fomboni on Mwali in the early 1990s with EU funds. Sea connections exist between the islands, and ferries provide a limited amount of interisland service. Landline telephone service is available on all of the islands. Mobile phone usage and Internet access were limited in the early 21st century, but both technologies are growing in popularity.
COMOROS ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
>The return of political and institutional stability in the Comoros has allowed economic growth to resume, averaging 3% a year between 2011 and 2013. The outlook for 2014 is positive, but the employment situation is not expected to improve, especially among new graduates.
>Control of public expenditure has enabled the Comoros to conclude the sixth and final review of the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF), approved on 13 December 2013.
>Despite the structural deficit in the current account balance, the country still has a comfortable external position, with more than seven months of import reserves, mainly thanks to remittances from emigrants (USD 147 million in 2012, or 23% of GDP). The Comoros has recorded positive growth since 2011. Growth was estimated at 3.6% in 2013, driven mainly by agriculture (representing almost half of GDP), retail, tourism, construction (above 4.0%), and banking and other services (around 8.0%).
The return to growth was aided by an expansionary fiscal policy thanks to major multilateral external financing, and especially bilateral financing from Arab countries. The Comoros has thus been able to run fiscal surpluses since 2011, increasing the surplus each year. A 5.6% surplus is projected for 2014 thanks to ongoing grants and programmes in the pipeline with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank and the European Union (EU).
Nevertheless, the country’s economic impetus since 2011 has not led to structural changes in the economy. It remains dominated by the agricultural sector (agriculture, forestry and fisheries), which represents almost half of GDP. The secondary sector, including construction, has grown slightly since 2010, remaining above 12% of GDP. The services sector, meanwhile, has declined since 2008 and now accounts for less than 40% of GDP.
The telecommunications sector has driven economic growth in many franc-zone countries. In the Comoros it remains a state monopoly. With support from the World Bank, the authorities are expected to sell a second licence in the near future and to open up the capital of Comores Télécom to create a competitive environment.
With the country’s population growing at a rate of 2.1% a year, the level of economic growth is too low to increase real per capita income and reduce poverty and youth unemployment. Poverty remains high, estimated at 45.6% in 2012, well above the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of 31.5% by 2015. The economic growth has done little to create jobs, with unemployment estimated at 14.3% and youth unemployment (under 25s) at 44.5%.
As part of the SCA2D strategy for accelerated growth and sustainable development (Stratégie de croissance accélérée et de développement durable) currently being drawn up for the period 2015-19, the government has set a growth objective of 6%, which will be driven by the development of basic infrastructure, improvements to the business climate and private-sector financial support.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS OF COMOROS
The Union of Comoros is ruled by President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi. Comoros has been plagued by political instability and civil strife following numerous coups and secession attempts since independence from France in 1975. Former President Azali seized power in a bloodless coup in April 1999, overthrowing interim President Tadijiddine Ben Said Massounde, who himself had held the office since the death of democratically elected President Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim in November 1998. In May 1999, Azali decreed a constitution that gave him both executive and legislative powers. When Azali took power, he had pledged to step down in 2000 and relinquish control to a democratically elected president. Instead, in 2001, Azali resigned from the military and ran as a civilian candidate for the national presidency. He was elected in 2002 in flawed but fair elections.
On May 26, 2006, following a two-stage electoral process that was generally free and fair, Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi was installed as the new President of the Union of the Comoros. The inauguration of President Sambi in June 2006 marked the first democratic transition of power in Comoran history. In June 2007, individual island elections on Grande Comore and Moheli were held on schedule and judged to have been free and fair. On the Anjouan, however, island governor Mohamed Bacar refused to step down, held a sham election and declared himself Island Governor for another term. In March 2008, Comoran and African Union (AU) forces restored constitutional rule on Anjouan. A new election for island governor was held peacefully in June 2008.
Principal Government Officials President--Ahmed Abdallah Sambi Minister of Foreign Affairs--Ahmed Ben Said Jaffar Ambassador to the United States and to the United Nations--Mohamed Toihiri
Comoros maintains a mission to the United States at 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418 New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212-750-1637).
- Constitutional framework
Under the constitution of 2001, amended in 2009, the three main islands—Ngazidja, Mwali, and Nzwani—form the Union of the Comoros. Executive power of the federal government is vested in the Council of the Union, which comprises a president and three vice presidents. Each council member serves a four-year term and represents one of the three islands, with the office of the federal president rotating between the islands every four years. The president, who serves as head of state, is directly elected in nationwide elections.
The constitutional referendum passed in 2009 included measures to reduce the federal governmental structure, change the island leadership positions of president to governor, and extend the term of the union presidency from four to five years. The union presidency term extension was annulled a year later by the Constitutional Court.
The unicameral legislature consists of the Assembly of the Union; members are elected to five-year terms. Slightly more than half the members are directly elected, with the remainder selected by the islands’ local governments.
In the late 1990s, secessionist movements on the islands of Nzwani and Mwali threatened the stability of Comoros. The individual islands’ desire for greater independence in their own affairs was not provided for under the existing constitution (from 1996) and continued to be the source of much conflict. Changes brought about by the 2001 constitution granted the three main islands partial autonomy, and each elects its own president (later governor) and legislative assembly. The government of each island is free to administer its own affairs so long as its actions do not infringe upon the rights of the other islands or otherwise threaten the state of the union.
- Political process
The 1996 constitution created a multiparty system, but stringent criteria severely limited the number of parties with legal recognition. The 2001 constitution removed these impediments, thus allowing political parties to operate freely. The country has universal suffrage, and women participate in all aspects of the economy. By the 1990s women had become cabinet members and held other positions in various governments.
- Justice and security
The legal system is a combination of French and Islamic law. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court. Other components include the Higher Council of the Magistracy, which is mandated to aid the president in providing for an independent judiciary, and a Constitutional Court. There is also a High Council, which is concerned with constitutional and electoral matters and rules in conflicts involving the islands and the union.
Comoros maintains a small army. The country also has an agreement with France that provides for a permanent French military presence in Comoros. The agreement was suspended after a military coup in April 1999, but it recommenced in September 2002.
- Health and welfare
Comoros has hospitals on each of the islands but suffers from a shortage of medical personnel, modern facilities, and supplies. Comorians largely depend on traditional medicines and healers. Those who have more-serious health problems and can afford to seek medical assistance do so in either Madagascar or France. While infant mortality has decreased and life expectancy has increased, there are still several growing health concerns. Less than half of the population has access to safe drinking water, and parasitic infestation is prevalent. Other serious illnesses are malaria, cholera, tuberculosis, and, to a lesser extent, leprosy and AIDS.
- Housing
Housing in Comoros varies from two-room structures covered with palm leaves to multilevel buildings made of stone and coral. The part of the house at street level often serves as a shop or warehouse, but in earlier times that level housed slaves or servants. Some Western-style houses, with indoor bathrooms and kitchens, also exist. Because of the practice of matrilocality—a societal custom where the offspring of a family reside with their mother—females often remain part of their mother’s household, even after marriage. This is owing in part to the practice of polygamy, as well as the traditional need for Comorian men to travel away from their communities in search of work. The family home can be expanded, or a separate structure can be built for a woman to inhabit with her children.
- Education
Education is officially compulsory for those between 6 and 16 years of age, but in practice a large percentage of the country’s children receive little or no schooling. Instruction is provided by both traditional Islamic schools, in which the Qurʾān is studied, and state-run schools established by and patterned on the French system. The public school system, however, has been chronically underfunded. There is a university in Moroni. Nearly nine-tenths of the population can read and write Comorian, using Arabic script, though only about half of the population is literate in French, the language of government administration.
CULTURE LIFE OF COMOROS
Over the centuries, diverse peoples have come together to form the complex cultural mix of Comoros. Contemporary Comorian culture reflects these many influences; the islands’ towns, for example, blend the architectural styles of mainland Africa, France, and the Middle East, and Comorian cuisine draws on many traditions. A culturally liberal form of Islam is the basis for religious observance during the year, and it provides the framework for daily life. Traditional Comorian women wear colourful sari-like dresses called shiromani (French, chiromani) and adorn their faces with a paste of ground sandalwood and coral called msinzano (French msindanu). Social organization is generational, with religious and ritual duties falling mostly to elders, who also enjoy political dominance.
- Daily life and social customs
Elaborate and expensive public weddings lasting as long as three weeks are common. Typically the unions are arranged between an older man and a younger woman, and it is the man’s responsibility to pay for the festivities, as well as to provide a dowry for his bride. These events often feed the entire community, and tourists are generally welcome to attend. This custom, called grand mariage on Ngazidja, is so expensive that only the wealthiest can afford it. A man who hosts a grand mariage is thereafter considered to be a grand notable—a person of high social standing. Ali Soilih, who was president of the country in the mid-1970s, attempted to ban this practice on the grounds that it imposed needless financial stress on an already impoverished society and kept the poor from participating in political life, but he was unsuccessful.
The religious centre of Comorian culture is the mosque, but the centre of daily life is the public square, often merely a tiny plaza nestled behind apartment houses at the end of a maze of alleyways. In the public squares on Ngazidja, men gather to one side, ranked by clan, age, and social status, so that the most-honoured have the best seats; on another side, sometimes separated by a wooden or fabric partition, sit women, similarly ordered by status. There they meet to share news and opinions, drink tea, and play chess and the game of mraha wa ntso. Students of Comorian society note that younger people of both sexes often prefer to gather in restaurants, clubs, and discotheques, and there is concern that the public square will dwindle in importance and perhaps even disappear within a generation or two.
Comorian cuisine is a mix of East African root-based stews and Indian Ocean (in particular South Asian and Indonesian) rice-based curry dishes. Locally grown spices such as vanilla, coriander, cardamom, and nutmeg figure heavily in regional cuisine, as do fresh fish and mutton. French styles have also influenced the Comorian table.
- The arts
Traditional arts include basketry, wood carving (notably doors and furniture), elaborate embroidery on clothing and hats, and jewelry making in gold and silver filigree.
Music is a widely shared form of cultural expression, and public squares and other gathering places showcase local groups and artists. Comorian popular music blends Arabic, African, Indian, and Western influences to produce a driving dance sound with lyrical, harmonized vocals. Common instrumentation includes accordions, guitars, gongs, drums, and rattles. Many successful musicians have relocated to France, and several have found a large following among European audiences.
The country has produced only a few internationally known writers, including Salim Hatubou, Soilih Mohamed Soilih, and Aboubacar Said Salim.
- Sports and recreation
A wide variety of sports are popular in Comoros, including football (soccer), basketball, athletics (track and field), swimming, tennis, and cycling, most of which were introduced during the period of French colonialism. Comoros participates in several regional and international competitions, such as the Aces Cup (a Comoros-Mayotte basketball competition), the Indian Ocean Games, and the Francophone Games.
Football is the most widely played sport. Every town has at least one team, and fans are fiercely loyal. However, with the creation of a national basketball federation in the late 1990s, basketball has fast become as well-liked as football. In 1999, for the first time since independence, both the men’s and women’s Mayottan basketball teams played against those representing Ngazidja, a notable cultural and athletic interchange between the two islands.
- Media and publishing
Al Watwan, a government-sponsored weekly newspaper, is published in both French and Shingazidja, a local dialect that is spoken on Ngazidja. La Gazette des Comores is an independently owned weekly, and a magazine called L’Archipel is published monthly. There are several radio and television stations, which are all government-operated.
HISTORY OF COMOROS
Over the centuries, the islands were invaded by a succession of diverse groups from the coast of Africa, the Persian Gulf, Indonesia, and Madagascar. Portuguese explorers visited the archipelago in 1505. "Shirazi" Arab migrants introduced Islam at about the same time. Between 1841 and 1912, France established colonial rule over Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mayotte, and Moheli and placed the islands under the administration of the governor general of Madagascar. Later, 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 World War II, the islands became a French overseas territory and were represented in France's National Assembly. Internal political autonomy was granted in 1961. Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for Comoros to become independent in 1978. On July 6, 1975, however, the Comoran parliament passed a resolution declaring unilateral independence. The deputies of Mayotte abstained. As a result, the Comoran Government has effective control over only Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli. Mayotte remains under French administration.
Comoros may have been inhabited by people of Malayo-Polynesian descent by the 5th or 6th century ad and possibly earlier. Others came from nearby Africa and Madagascar, and Arabs also made up a significant portion of the early population. The islands did not appear on a European world map until 1527, when they were depicted by the Portuguese cartographer Diego Ribero. The first Europeans known to visit the archipelago appear to have been Portuguese, somewhat later in the 16th century. The Englishman Sir James Lancaster visited Ngazidja about 1591, but the dominant foreign influence in the islands remained Arabian until the 19th century.
In 1843 France officially took possession of Mayotte, and in 1886 it placed the other three islands under its protection. Administratively attached to Madagascar in 1912, Comoros became an overseas territory of France in 1947 and was given representation in the French National Assembly. In 1961, a year after Madagascar became independent, the islands were granted internal autonomy. Majorities on three of the islands voted for independence in 1974, but most of the inhabitants of Mayotte favoured continuing French rule. When the National Assembly of France held that each island should decide its own status, Comorian President Ahmed Abdallah (who was deposed later that year) declared the whole archipelago independent on July 6, 1975. Comoros was subsequently admitted to the United Nations, which recognized the integrity of the entire archipelago as one nation. France, however, acknowledged the sovereignty of only the three islands and upheld the autonomy of Mayotte, designating it a “territorial collectivity” (i.e., neither a territory nor a département) of France in 1976. As relations deteriorated, France withdrew all development and technical aid from Comoros. Ali Soilih became president and attempted to convert the country into a secular, socialist republic. In May 1978 a coup led by a French citizen, Col. Robert Denard, and a group of European mercenaries brought Abdallah, the exiled former president, back into power.
Diplomatic relations with France were resumed, a new constitution was drawn up, and Abdallah was reelected president in late 1978 and again in 1984, when he ran unopposed. He survived three coup attempts, but in November 1989 he was assassinated. Multiparty presidential elections were held in 1990, and Saïd Mohamed Djohar was elected president, but in September 1995 he was deposed in a coup led by Denard. The coup was defused when French intervention removed Denard and the mercenaries.
New elections were held in 1996. Under the newly elected president, Mohamed Abdoulkarim Taki, a new constitution was ratified and attempts were made to curtail government expenditures and increase revenues. By August 1997 secessionist movements on the islands of Nzwani and Mwali had become strong enough that their leaders declared each island independent of the republic. The following month an attempt was made by the federal government to suppress the secessionist movement, but troops sent to the island of Nzwani were completely routed. The independence of the two islands was not recognized by any political polity outside the islands, however, and attempts to mediate the situation by international organizations failed.
Taki died suddenly in November 1998 and was replaced by an interim president, Tadjiddine Ben Saïd Massounde. The constitution called for new elections, but, before any were held, the interim president was ousted in April 1999 by a military coup led by the army chief of staff, Col. Assoumani Azali, who took control of the government. The new government was not recognized by the international community, but in July Azali negotiated an accord with the secessionists on the island of Nzwani. The secessionists signed an agreement that established a presidential term that would rotate among the three islands. The rotating presidential term was approved by all three islands in December 2001, as was a new draft constitution that provided each island with partial autonomy and their own local president and legislative assembly. The first federal elections under the terms of the new constitution were held in 2002, and Azali, from Ngazidja, was elected president. In 2006 the presidential term rotated to the island of Nzwani. Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi was declared the winner of the federal presidential election in May and assumed control of the federal government in a peaceful transfer of power.
The fragile peace was threatened in 2007 when the federal government, in response to violence and evidence of voter intimidation, ordered the Nzwani (also known by its French name, Anjouan) government to postpone the island’s local presidential election and called for Nzwani’s president, Col. Mohamed Bacar, to step down and allow for an interim president. Bacar ignored the order and in June 2007 held an election in which he was declared the winner. The results were not recognized by the federal government or the African Union (AU): both demanded new elections, which Bacar refused to hold. With the situation at an impasse, the AU imposed sanctions on Bacar’s administration in October, which had little impact in pressuring him to comply with their demands. Comorian and AU troops invaded Nzwani on March 25, 2008, and quickly secured the island; Bacar avoided capture and fled the country.
The status of Mayotte—which was still claimed by Comoros but administered by France—was the subject of a March 2009 referendum. More than 95 percent of Mayotte voters approved changing the island’s status with France from a territorial collectivity to an overseas department in 2011, strengthening its ties with that country. Comoros, as well as the AU, rejected the outcome of the vote.
In May 2009 Comorian voters passed a referendum that amended the country’s constitution. One of the changes—extending the term of the union presidency from four to five years—was met by protest from the opposition and later annulled by the Constitutional Court in May 2010; the decision left Sambi’s current term as president set to expire without any successor. An interim government under Sambi was established to rule the country until elections, scheduled for the end of the year, could take place. The presidential term rotated to the island of Mwali, and Ikililou Dhoinine, one of Sambi’s vice presidents, garnered the most votes in the first round of voting, held on Nov. 7, 2010. He went on to win the December 26 runoff election with 61 percent of the vote, although his victory was clouded by allegations of fraud from the opposition. Dhoinine was inaugurated on May 26, 2011.
NATIONAL SECURITY
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 maritime base and a Foreign Legion contingent on Mayotte.
Islands of Comoros and Cities therein
- Island of Anjouan
- Adda-Douéni
- Bambao
- Bazimini
- Domoni
- Dzindri
- Jimilimé
- Koni-Djodjo
- Mirontsi
- Moya
- Mramani
- Mutsamudu (Island capital)
- Ongoujou
- Ouani
- Pomoni
- Sima
- Tsimbeo
- Island of Grande Comore
- Chezani
- Dembéni
- Foumbouni
- Hahaia
- Iconi
- Itsikoudi
- Koimbani
- Mbéni
- Mitsamiouli
- Mitsoudjé
- Mohoro
- Moroni (National and Island capital)
- Mvouni
- N'Tsaoueni
- N'Tsoudjini
- Nkourani
- Pidjani
- Tsidjé
- Island of Mohéli
- Bandaressalam
- Djoiezi
- Fomboni (Island capital)
- Hoani
- Kangani
- Mbatsé
- Miringoni
- Mtakoudja
- Ndrondroni
- Nioumachoua
- Ouallah
- Sambia
- Wanani
- Ziroudani
FOREIGN RELATIONS
In November 1975, Comoros became the 143rd member of the United Nations. The new nation was defined as consisting of the entire archipelago, despite the fact that France maintains control over Mayotte.
Comoros also is a member of the African Union, the European Development Fund, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Indian Ocean Commission, and the African Development Bank.
U.S.-COMORIAN RELATIONS
The United States recognized the Comoran Government in 1977. The two countries enjoy friendly relations. The U.S. closed its Embassy in Moroni in 1993 and is now represented by a nonresident Ambassador in neighboring Madagascar.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials (all officers resident in Antananarivo, Madagascar) Ambassador--R. Niels Marquardt Deputy Chief of Mission--Eric Stromayer Management Officer--Stephen Dodson Public Affairs Officer--Rodney Ford Political-Economic-Commercial Chief--Dovie Holland Political Officer--Jeff Hulse Political-Economic-Commercial Officer for Comoros--Brian Neubert Consular Officer--Melanie Rubenstein
The address of the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar is 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo. The mailing address is B.P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo, Madagascar (tel: 261-20-22-212-57; fax: 261-20-22-345-39; E-mail: uswebmaster@wanadoo.mg).
Comoros in 2004
Comoros Area: 1,862 sq km (719 sq mi), excluding the 374-sq-km (144-sq-mi) island of Mayotte, a de facto dependency of France since 1976 Population (2004 est.): 596,000 (excluding 172,000 on Mayotte ...>>>read on<<<
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION
The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program advises Americans traveling and residing abroad through Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings. Country Specific Information exists for all countries and includes information on entry and exit requirements, currency regulations, health conditions, safety and security, crime, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country because the situation is dangerous or unstable. For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found. Consular Affairs Publications, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are also available at http://www.travel.state.gov. For additional information on international travel, see http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel/International.shtml.
The Department of State encourages all U.S. citizens traveling or residing abroad to register via the State Department's travel registration website or at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency and will enable you to receive up-to-date information on security conditions.
Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or the regular toll line 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside the U.S. and Canada.
The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department of State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport information. Telephone: 1-877-4-USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778); TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793. Passport information is available 24 hours, 7 days a week. You may speak with a representative Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) and a web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. The CDC publication "Health Information for International Travel" can be found at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentYellowBook.aspx.
Information gathered from : http://www.usa.gov