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Comoros
Background: 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.
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E Map references: Africa Area:
Area - comparative: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 340 km Maritime claims:
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: NEGL Land use:
Irrigated land: NA sq km 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:
Geography - note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Population: 578,400 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 3.05% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 40.05 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.59 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 86.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 5.38 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: CN Government type: independent republic Capital: Moroni Administrative divisions:
three islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975) Constitution: 20 October 1996 Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch:
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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and 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, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US:
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 - 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. GDP: purchasing power parity - $410 million (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1998 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $725 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1998) Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3% Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.) Budget:
Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 15 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 14 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) Exports: $9.3 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exports - commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra Exports - partners: France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1997) Imports: $49.5 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Imports - commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment Imports - partners: France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1997) Debt - external: $197 million (1997 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $28.1 million (1997) Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 485.44 (January 2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use: 5,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system:
sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 90,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (1998) Televisions: 1,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
Railways: 0 km Highways:
Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 4 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Military branches: Comoran Security Force Military manpower - availability:
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Disputes - international: claims French-administered Mayotte; the islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede from Comoros Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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