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Comoros

Comoros

The Comoros officially the Union of the Comoros 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.

country name

  • conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
  • conventional short form: Comoros
  • local long form: Union des Comores
  • local short form: Comores

Nationality

  • noun: Comoran(s)
  • adjective: Comoran

capital

  • name: Moroni
  • geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E
  • time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

independence

  • 6 July 1975 (from France)

population

  • 731,775 (July 2008 est.)

Growth rate

  • 2.803% (2008 est.)

HIV adult preveleance

  • 0.12% (2001 est.)

ethnic group

  • Antalote
  • Cafre
  • Makoa
  • Oimatsaha
  • Sakalava

Religion

  • Sunni Muslim 98%
  • Roman Catholic 2%

Language

  • 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% (2003 est.)

Area comperative

  • slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

  • tropical marine
  • rainy season (November to May)

natural resources

  • NEGL

Economy over view

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, h3ersify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. The political problems caused the economy to contract in 2007. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.

GDP real Growth rate

  • -1% (2007 est.)

GDP per Capital

  • $1,100 (2007 est.)

Background

Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002 Presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI took office. Since 2006, Anjouan's President Mohamed BACAR has refused to work effectively with the Union presidency. In 2007, BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.

government type

  • republic

Enviorment Current issue

  • soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing
  • deforestation

For more info please contact:
African Studies
(310) 825-3686
africa@international@ucla.edu