Official Name
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
Capital Moroni
Currencies Comoros franc
Language(s) Arabic, French, and Comorian
Population 727,000
GNP per head (US$) 380
Area (square kilometres) 2230
Population per sq. km 326
Population per sq. mile 844


COUNTRY INFORMATION

Introduction

The archipelago Republic of the Comoros lies off the east African coast, between Mozambique and Madagascar. It consists of three main islands and a number of islets. Most of the population are subsistence farmers. In 1975, the Comoros Islands, except for Mayotte, became independent of France. Since then instability has plagued this poor region, with countless coups and countercoups, and repeated attempts at secession by smaller islands.



Climate

The islands are tropical; it is hot and humid on the coasts and cooler higher up, notably on Mount Kartala.



People
Languages Arabic, Comoran, French
URBAN/RURAL POPULATION DIVIDE
Urban 33
% Rural 67
%

The Comoros has absorbed Polynesians, Africans, Indonesians, Persians, and Arabs over time, as well as immigrants from Portugal, Holland, France, and India. Some communities retain their individual character; for instance, Mwali (Mohéli) is still primarily African. Ethnic tension is rare, partly owing to the unifying force of Islam, the predominant religion. A more potent divisive factor, especially on Anjouan, is regionalism.



Economy
GNP (US$) 212
M GNP World rank 184
 
Inflation 4 % Unemployment 20 %

Strengths

Vanilla, ylang-ylang, and cloves are the main cash crops.

Weaknesses

Subsistence level farming. Over 50% of food requirements imported. Lack of basic infrastructure, especially electricity and transport. Allegations of financial mismanagement. Persistent political instability, hindering growth of tourism.



Politics
Lower house Last election 1996 Next election 2000 (postponed)
Upper house Last election Not applicable Next election Not applicable

Attempts to introduce democracy have been consistently undermined by repeated coups. Anjouan declared independence in 1997, since when rival militias have favored either cohabitation with Grande Comore or reattachment to France. Renewed violence in April 1999 provided Col. Assoumani Azzali with the pretext to install himself as Comoran president. In a new "Union of the Comoros" a loose confederation gives each island its own president and legislature, with a federal president having overall authority. Azzali was returned to power unopposed in 2002, although his victory was undermined by low voter turnout.



International Affairs
 

France remains the main aid donor, although economic ties with South Africa are strong. The turbulent situation on the war-torn islands forced a visiting OAU assessment team to flee Anjouan in 1999. An army of European mercenaries attempted to take over Mohéli in December 2001.



Defence
Expenditure (US$) 3 M Portion of GDP No data %
Army No data
Navy No data
Airforce No data
Nuclear capab. None

France and South Africa finance the small presidential guard, the principal security force. Mauritian aid was also sought after clashes on Anjouan.



Resources
Minerals None
Oil reserves (barrels) No data Oil production (barrels/day) Not an oil producer

There are few strategic resources. An HEP plant is under construction on Anjouan, but most fuel for energy is still imported. Fishing remains a neglected source of future growth.



Environment
Protected land 0 % Part protected land No data %
Environmental trends

The environment is not a major priority in the Comoros; natural disasters, such as the volcanic eruption in 1977 which left 20,000 people homeless, are of more immediate concern. The government is promoting tourism and recognizes the long-term commercial value of imposing environmental controls on new developments.



Communications
Main airport Moroni-Hahaya, Grande Comore Passengers per year 118565
Motorways 0
km Roads 673
km Railways 0
km

Recent projects have included the development of the port at Moroni and upgrading the international airport.



International Aid
Donated (US$) Not applicable
M Received (US$) 19
M

Aid, mainly from France, the EU, the World Bank, and the IMF, accounts for over 40% of GDP. Because of its Islamic links, the Comoros also gets aid from Arab states and OPEC. In 1998 major donors attacked the government for spending more than 70% on "political superstructure."



Health
Life expectancy 60 Life expect. World rank 140
Population per doctor 14000 Infant mortality (per 1000 births) 60
Expend. % GDP 5 %
Principal causes of death Malaria, infectious intestinal and bacterial diseases

Health care is rudimentary, other than two maternity clinics and 30 health centers.



Education
Literacy 60 % Expend. % GNP 4

%

PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN FULL TIME EDUCATION
Primary 76 % Secondary 25 % Tertiary 1 %

There is a very limited education system beyond secondary level. Schools are equipped to teach only basic literacy, hygiene, and agricultural techniques. Pupil–teacher ratios are high.



Criminality
Crime rate trend Crime is rising
Prison population 200
Murder No data per 100,000 population
Rape No data per 100,000 population
Theft No data per 100,000 population

A climate of lawlessness has been created by the continuing power struggles between rival militias – particularly on the island of Anjouan since 1997.



Wealth
Cars 13 per 1,000 population
Telephones 10 per 1,000 population
Televisions 2 per 1,000 population

A political and business elite controls most of the wealth. Bridegrooms win social status according to the size of their weddings. Government workers often suffer from wage arrears.



Media
Newspapers There are 2 weekly newspapers, the state-owned Al Watwan and the independent La Gazette des Comores
TV services No TV service
Radio services 1 state-controlled service, some independent services


Tourism
Visitors per year 24000

In 1988, Sun International of South Africa joined a major project to build four hotels designed to attract 12,000 visitors a year. However, political instability has wrecked the islands' tourism prospects.



History

The Comoros was ruled by matrilineally inherited sultanates until shortly before becoming a French protectorate in 1886.

  • 1961 Internal self-government.
  • 1975 Independence.
  • 1978 Mercenaries restore Ahmed Abdallah to power.
  • 1989 Abdallah assassinated.
  • 1992 Chaotic first multiparty polls.
  • 1996 Mohammed Taki Abdoulkarim elected president.
  • 1997 Anjouan separatists beat off government troops.
  • 1999 Col. Azzali seizes power. Anjouan militias clash.
  • 2000 Fomboni declaration signed with Anjouan.
  • 2001 Successive coups on Anjouan.
  • 2002 Constitution approved and elections held; Azzali returned to power.