Comoros
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores local short form: Comores
independent republicIndependence 6 July 1975 (from France)
Comoros as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 111 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He has pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through the 2000 Fomboni Accord, a confederal arrangement that the Organization of African Unity has yet to recognize.
Geography
Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
18 fieldsLocation
Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Land use
arable land: 35% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 18% other: 30% (1993 est.)
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
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 42.81% (male 127,955; female 127,267) 15-64 years: 54.26% (male 159,560; female 163,949) 65 years and over: 2.93% (male 8,326; female 9,145) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 60.41 years male: 58.2 years female: 62.68 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.3% male: 64.2% female: 50.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Independent republic; President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999)
19 fieldsCountry name
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
Administrative divisions
- 3 islands;
- Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali);
- note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Executive branch
- 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 Hamada MADI (since late November 2000) 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;
- but elections, promised for spring 2000, were not held election results: results of the last presidential election before the coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president;
- percent of vote - 64.3%
Legislative branch
- bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats: five from each island);
- members selected by regional councils for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats;
- members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms);
- note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April 1999 elections: Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA) election results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
- seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1 note: the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most successful party will be in opposition;
- in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
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)
Political parties and leaders
- 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]
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Deputy Permanent Representative Mahmoud Mohamed ABOUD (acting) 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) 972-8010
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Flag description
- 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
Economy
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.
32 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
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, is the leading sector of the economy. It 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 is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.
Industries
tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Agriculture - products
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Imports - commodities
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Exchange rates
- Comoran francs per US dollar - 524.41 (January 2001), 533.98 (2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996) note: prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc;
- since 1 January 1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
Transportation
7 fieldsMerchant marine
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,122 GRT/29,817 DWT ships by type: cargo 2 (2000 est.)
Military
Comoran Security Force
5 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
claims French-administered Mayotte; the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has moved to secede from Comoros
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Comoros.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/comoros/2001.