Bureau of African Affairs December 2007 Background say: Comoros Sunset at Moya beach on Anjouan island. Comoros. December 29. 2001. [© AP Images] sign of Comoros is four equal horizontal bands of yellow at top white red. and blue with green isosceles triangle based on hoist; centered within triangle is white crescent with convex side facing bring up and four white. five-pointed stars placed vertically in line between points of crescent. PROFILE OFFICIAL label: Union of the Comoros Geography Area: 2,171 sq km. (838 sq mi.); slightly less than half the size of Delaware. study islands--Grande Comore (1,025 sq km.). Anjouan (424 sq. km.). Mayotte (374 sq km.) and Moheli (211 sq km.). Cities: Capital--Moroni (pop. 30,000); Mutsamudu (pop. 20,000). Terrain: Rugged. Climate: Tropical marine. populate Nationality: Noun and adjective--Comoran(s). Population (2006 est.): 690,948. Mayotte (1990 est.)--70,000. Annual growth rate (2006 est.): 2.87%. Ethnic groups: Antalote. Cafre. Makoa. Oimatsaha. Sakalava. Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%. Roman Catholic 2%. Languages: Shikomoro (a Swahili-Arabic amalgamate). Arabic (official). cut (official). Education: Attendance--60% primary. 34% secondary. Literacy--56.5%. Health: Life expectancy--62.33yrs. Infant mortality rate--72.85/1,000. Work compel (1996): 144,500. Agriculture--80%. Government Type: Republic. Independence: July 6. 1975 (Mayotte remains under cut administration). Constitution: Adopted by referendum on December 23. 2001. Branches: Executive--national president; regional island presidents. Legislative--National Assembly. Judicial--traditional Muslim and codified law from French sources. Political parties: 17 political parties. Suffrage: Universal adult. Economy GDP (purchasing power parity): $419 million. Annual growth rate: 0.5%. Per capita income: $720. Agriculture (40% of GDP): Products--vanilla cloves odorize essences copra banana cassava coconuts. Services (56% of GDP): Commerce tourism. Industry (4% of GDP): Types--perfume distillation. change: Exports (1999 est.)--$7.9 million: vanilla cloves perfume essences. copra. Major markets--France. Germany. Imports (1998 est.)--$35.84 million: rice petroleum meat wheat flour cotton textiles bind. Major suppliers--France 38%. Pakistan 13%. Kenya 8%. South Africa 8%. populate The Comorans inhabiting Grande Comore. Anjouan and Moheli (86% of the population) overlap African-Arab origins. Islam is the dominant religion and Koranic schools for children reinforce its influence. Although Arab culture is firmly established throughout the archipelago a substantial minority of the citizens of Mayotte (the Mahorais) are Catholic and have been strongly influenced by cut culture. The most common language is Shikomoro a Swahili dialect. French and Arabic also are spoken. About 57% of the population is literate. HISTORY Over the centuries the islands were invaded by a succession of diverse groups from the glide of Africa the Persian Gulf. Indonesia and Madagascar. Portuguese explorers visited the archipelago in 1505. "Shirazi" Arab migrants introduced Islam at about the same time. Between 1841 and 1912. France established colonial command over Grande Comore. Anjouan. Mayotte and Moheli and placed the islands under the administration of the governor command of Madagascar. Later. cut settlers. French-owned companies and wealthy Arab merchants established a plantation-based economy that now uses about one-third of the land for export crops. After World War II the islands became a cut overseas territory and were represented in France's National Assembly. Internal political autonomy was granted in 1961. Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for Comoros to become independent in 1978. On July 6. 1975 however the Comoranparliament passed a resolution declaring unilateral independence. The deputies of Mayotte abstained. As a prove the Comoran Government has effective control over only Grande Comore. Anjouan. and Moheli. Mayotte remains under cut administration. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS The Union of Comoros is ruled by President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi. Comoros has been plagued by political instability and civil strife following numerous coups and secession attempts since independence from France in 1975. Former President Azali seized cater in a bloodless coup in April 1999 overthrowing interim President Tadijiddine Ben Said Massounde who himself had held the office since the death of democratically elected President Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim in November 1998. In May 1999. Azali decreed a constitution that gave him both executive and legislative powers. When Azali took cater he had pledged to step down in 2000 and relinquish control to a democratically elected president. Instead in 2001. Azali resigned from the military and ran as a civilian candidate for the national presidency. He was elected in 2002 in flawed but bring together elections. On May 26. 2006 following a two-stage electoral process that was generally remove and fair. Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi was installed as the new President of the Union of the Comoros. Sambi's inaugural address included a promise to carry justice and development to the Comoros. Principal Government Officials President--Ahmed Abdallah Sambi attend of Foreign Affairs--Ahmed Ben Said Jaffar Ambassador to the United States and to the United Nations--Mahamed Toihiri Comoros maintains a mission to the United States at 336 E. 45th St.. 2d floor. New York. NY 10017 (tel. 212-750-1637). ECONOMY Comoros with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) per capita income of about $700 is among the world's poorest and least developed nations. Although the quality of the land differs from island to island most of the widespread lava-encrusted soil formations are unsuited to agriculture. As a prove most of the inhabitants make their living from subsistence agriculture and fishing. Agriculture involving more than 80% of the population and 40% of the gross domestic product provides virtually all foreign exchange earnings. Services including tourism construction and commercial activities constitute the remainder of the GDP. Plantations act a large harmonise of the population in producing the islands' study change crops for merchandise: vanilla cloves. perfume essences and copra. Comoros is the world's leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang used in manufacturing odorize. It also is the world's second-largest producer of vanilla. Principal food crops are coconuts. bananas and cassava. Foodstuffs constitute 32% of total imports. The country lacks the infrastructure necessary for development. Some villages are not linked to the main road system or at best are connected by tracks usable only by four-wheel-drive vehicles. The islands' ports are rudimentary although a deepwater facility functions in Anjouan. Only small vessels can approach the existing quays in Moroni on Grande Comore despite improvements. Long-distance ocean-going ships must lie offshore and be unloaded by smaller boats; during the cyclone season this procedure is dangerous and ships are reluctant to call at the island. Most transport is sent first to Mombasa. Kenya or the island of Reunion and transshipped from there. France. Comoros' study trading partner finances small projects only. The United States receives a growing percentage.
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