Comoros

Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. A subsequent attempt 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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

43% (male 123,891; female 123,241)

15-64 years:

54% (male 155,062; female 159,287)

65 years and over:

3% (male 8,072; female 8,847) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.91 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 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:

• President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999);
• note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 30 April 1999

head of government:

Prime Minister Bianrifi TARMIDI (since 2 December 1999)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:

• president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
• election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA);
• prime minister appointed by the president

note: President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup; elections, in theory, should be held in the spring of 2000 but are likely to be dependent on the island of Anjouan remaining part of the federation

election results:

results of the last presidential election before the coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote - 64.3%

• Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA];
• Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Ali Bazi SELIM]

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, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

telephone:

[1] (212) 983-4712

• 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.)