Comoros

Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since receiving independence from France in 1975. Most recently, in August 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. An attempt in September 1997 by the government to reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering negotiations to effect a reconciliation.

arable land:

35%

permanent crops:

10%

permanent pastures:

7%

forests and woodland:

18%

other:

30% (1993 est.)

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

43% (male 120,397; female 119,945)

15-64 years:

54% (male 150,851; female 154,990)

65 years and over:

3% (male 7,878; female 8,662) (1999 est.)

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.91 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

noun:

Comoran(s)

adjective:

Comoran

conventional long form:

Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros

conventional short form:

Comoros

local long form:

Republique Federale Islamique des Comores

local short form:

Comores

chief of state:

• Interim President TADJIDDINE Ben Said Massounde (since 6 November 1998);
• note--President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim died in office 6 November 1998 and was succeeded by Interim President MASSOUNDE

head of government:

Prime Minister Abbas DJOUSSOUF (since 22 November 1998)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:

• president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;
• election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA);
• prime minister appointed by the president

election results:

Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote--64%

note: the Comoran constitution stipulates that upon the death of the president, a new president is to be elected within 90 days; however, Interim President TADJIDDINE has stated that a new election cannot be held until Anjouan is reunited with the rest of the country

chief of mission:

Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)

chancery:

(temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017

• green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward;
• there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent;
• the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam;
• the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago--Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros);
• the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

total:

880 km

paved:

673 km

unpaved:

207 km (1996 est.)