Comoros

Overview of Comoros

  • The Comoros is the only state to be a member of the African Union, Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League (of which it’s the southernmost state, being the only member of the Arab League which is entirely within the Southern Hemisphere) and the Indian Ocean Commission.
  • Comoros has repeatedly pressed its claim to Mayotte before the UN General Assembly, which has adopted a series of resolutions opining that Mayotte belongs to Comoros under the principle that the territorial integrity of colonial territories should be preserved upon independence.
  • Comoros – Jurisdiction/ – Discription/ – Features of Potential Outstanding Universal Values
    Mayotte – Jurisdiction/ – Description/ – Features of Potential Outstanding Universal Values
    Threats/ Management status / Key References
  • Comoros is a member of a constituency comprised of the following countries: Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
  • Comoros saw its first peaceful, democratic change in government in May 2006, in which a Sunni-Muslim cleric from the island of Nzwani (Anjouan), Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, won 58 per cent of the vote.
  • Comoros’s inter-agency task force targeting trafficking in persons was no longer operational during the reporting period, and the country lacked a comprehensive anti-trafficking action plan.
  • Comoros (16-606) – Agreement for Employment Work for Dependents of Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts Assigned to Official Duty in Each Other’s Countries
  • Comoros’s volatile political history includes a number of coups and attempted coups, though recent presidential and legislative elections have been reasonably well administered.
  • Comoros has about 0.2 cu mi of water, of which 47% is used for agricultural
    purposes, 48% is used in urban centers and for domestic purposes, and 5% is used in industry.
  • Comoros has a land area of 2,170 square kilometers (838 square miles), making it slightly larger than 12 times the size of Washington, D.C.
  • Continent

    The area occupied by the Comoros Islands is slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, D.C.The capital city, Moroni, is located at the western edge of Grande Comore.The Comoros have a total coastline of 340 kilometers (211 miles).The Comoros, composed of the islands of Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan, are located at the northern entrance of the Mozambique Channel, between the eastern shore of the African continent and the island of Madagascar.The islands have a combined area of 2,170 square kilometers (838 square miles), of which Grande Comore (Njazídja), the largest and northernmost island, comprises 1,148 square kilometers (443 square miles).

    Population

    The Comoros has healthy population growth as half of its population is under the age of 15 and the fertility rate is 4.7 babies born to each adult woman.The country’s population has been growing steadily since the 1970’s and this trend is expected to continue.

    Size

    Comparatively, the area occupied by the Comoros Islands is slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC.Mayotte, the fourth major island in the Comoros Archipelago, covering an area of 374 sq km (144 sq mi), is claimed by the Comoros but remains under French territorial administration.The capital city Moroni, is located at the western edge of the island of Grande Comore.The Comoros are located at the northern entrance of the Mozambique Channel, between the eastern shore of the African continent and the island of Madagascar, which lies about 480 km (300 mi) to the se.The Comoros extend about 180 km (110 mi) ese–wnw and 100 km (62 mi) nne–ssw, with a total coastline of 340 km (211 mi).The islands have a combined area of 2,170 sq km (838 sq mi), of which Grande Comore (Njazídja), the largest and northernmost island, comprises 1,148 sq km (443 sq mi); Mohéli (Mwali), lying to the s of Grande Comore, 290 sq km (112 sq mi); and Anjouan (Nzwani) to the e of Mohéli, 424 sq km (164 sq mi).There are also several small islands.

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    Where is Comoros?

    The island country of Comoros is located in the Indian Ocean at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel.Considered to be part of Africa, it is located off the eastern coast of Africa.Comoros has maritime borders with Tanzania and Mozambique in mainland Africa to the northwest and west respectively.It also has maritime borders with the islands nations and territories of Madagascar and Mayotte to the southeast and Seychelles to the northeast.It is located in the Eastern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth.

    History of Comoros

  • In 2011 the entire EEZ of Mayotte was designated as a Marine Protected Area, though zoning is yet to be established.
  • In 1505, Portuguese explorers first visited Comoros.
  • In 1792, Malagasy fighters began raiding the area for slaves and eventually settled many areas.
  • In 1841, Sultan Sakalva Andriantsouly sold the island of Mayotte to the French.
  • In 1841, the French first established colonial rule.
  • In 1843, a Malagasy who ruled over Mayotte ceded the island to France, and in 1865, a Malagasy ruler of Mohéli signed a friendship treaty with
    France.
  • In 1886, Moheli Queen Salima Machimba placed that island under the protection of the French.
  • In 1886, Mohéli was turned over to French protection by its Queen Salimba Mochimba.
  • In 1912, the Comoros became an official French colony.
  • In 1912, the Comoros were officially declared French colonies.
  • In 1914 they became a colony attached to Madagascar administratively and were made a French overseas territory in 1947.
  • In 1946, the Comoros became a French overseas territory.
  • In 1968, secondary school students organized a strike.
  • In 1974, all of the islands voted for independence from France except Mayotte.
  • In 1974, France organized a referendum for self-determination in the archipelago in which the population except in Mayotte voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence.
  • In 1975 three of the islands voted to become independent, while Mayotte chose to remain a French dependency.
  • In 1977 Soilih’s government changed the French names of the four islands (Grande-Comore, Mohéli, Mayotte, and Anjouan) to Ngazidja, Mwali, Mahore, and Nzwani.
  • In 1978, after three years of political turmoil, three of the
    islands; Grande Comore, Moheli, and Anjouan, formed the Federal Islamic
    Republic of the Comoro Islands while France retained control of Mayotte.
  • In 1981, Comoros had 236 primary schools, 1 teacher training college, and 2 technical schools.
  • In 1991, Djohar was impeached and replaced by an interim president, but he returned to power with French backing.
  • In 1995, 9,000 hectares (22,240 acres) of Comoros was forestland, or about 4 percent of the total land area.
  • In 1996, it handled 92,000 passengers.
  • In 1996, it was estimated that there was a total of 880 kilometers (547 miles) of highways, 673 kilometers (418 miles) of which were paved.
  • In 1996, Mohamed Taki Abdulkarim was elected president.
  • In 1996, there were 23,775 tourist arrivals by Air Comoros and receipts totaled $9.1 million.
  • In 1997 (the latest year for which data was available), 83,000 passengers traveled on international and domestic flights.
  • In 1997, demands for increased autonomy on the islands of Ndzuani (Anjouan) and Mwali (Moheli) led to the breakup of the Federal Islamic Republic.
  • In 1997, following years of economic decline, rebels took control of the islands of Nzwani and Mwali, declaring their secession and desire to return to French rule.
  • In 1997, separatists on the islands
    of Anjouan and Moheli demanded more independence from the Federal Islamic
    Republic of the Comoro Islands.
  • In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros.
  • In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli seceded from the Comoros.
  • In 1997, the islands of Nzwani and Mwali declared their independence from Comoros.
  • In 1998, there were no universities, and the public schools on Grand Comore were closed for most of the year because of civil unrest.
  • In 1999, military chief Col.
  • In 2000 there were 18,000 migrants living in Comoros.
  • In 2000, Moroni’s estimated population was 36,000.
  • In 2000, there were 18,000 migrants living in Comoros.
  • In 2001, 34 percent of the population was considered urban, but that is expected to grow, since rural population growth is negative, while overall population growth is still relatively high.[21] Major urban centers include Moroni, Mutsamudu, Domoni, Fomboni, and Tsémbéhou.
  • In 2001, 34% of the population was considered urban, but that is expected to grow, since rural population growth is negative, while overall population growth is still relatively high.[79]
  • In 2001, radio stations included one AM and four FM.
  • In 2001, the government reformed as the Union of the Comoros under a new constitution which gave each of the three islands more autonomy than had been enjoyed previously.
  • In 2001, there were one AM and four FM radio stations.
  • In 2002, Colonel Azali
    Assoumani from Grande Comore was elected President.
  • In 2002, imports of cement totaled 29,985 tons, down from 40,000 tons in 2001.
  • In 2003, an estimated $36.4 million in remittances, approximately 12% of GDP, flowed to Comoros.
  • In 2003, the consumption and generation of electricity each totaled 0.02 billion kWh.
  • In 2003, there were 13,200 mainline telephones in use throughout the country, along with an additional 2,000 mobile phones.
  • In 2004 the Comoros’ real GDP growth was a low 1.9% and real GDP per capita continued to decline.
  • In 2004, Comoros had no known reserves or production of petroleum, having had to import whatever it consumed.
  • In 2004, the value of Comoros’s exports was $34 million, and imports were valued at $115 million.
  • In 2005, a law was passed to define each governmental body’s responsibilities.
  • In 2005, approximately 3% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 43% of the population under 15 years of age.
  • In 2005, Comoros’s gross domestic product (GDP) was $441.0 million, or about $600 per person.
  • In 2006, two species of mammals, 10 species of birds, and five species of plants were threatened.
  • In 2007, a vote he staged was rejected as illegal by Comoros’ government and the African Union.
  • In 2008, President of Anjouan refused to hold free elections.
  • In 2012 the entire EEZ of Glorieuses was also established as a Marine Protected Area, excluding fisheries.
  • In 2018 Azali held a referendum on constitutional reform that would permit a president to serve two terms.
  • In 2018, a controversial referendum ushered in a number of major systemic changes, and opponents of the referendum and its main proponent, President Azali Assoumani, were severely persecuted.
  • In 2018, former coup leader turned President Azali Assoumani cracked down on the opposition and won a referendum that centralized executive power.
  • In 2018, it became a full member of the Southern African Development Community.
  • In 2019, Comoros GDP was an estimated $1.2 billion (current market exchange rates); real GDP was up by an estimated 1.9%; and the population was 874 thousand.
  • In 2019, Comoros made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
  • In 2019, criminal law enforcement agencies in Comoros took actions to combat child labor (Table 7).
  • In 2019, labor law enforcement agencies in Comoros took actions to combat child labor (Table 6).
  • In 2019, more than 56% of the labor force was employed in agriculture, with 29% employed in industry and 14% employed in services.[74] The islands’ agricultural sector is based on the export of spices, including vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves, and thus susceptible to price fluctuations in the volatile world commodity market for these goods.[71] The Comoros is the world’s largest producer of ylang-ylang, a plant whose extracted essential oil is used in the perfume industry; some 80% of the world’s supply comes from the Comoros.[75]
  • On 3 August 1975, less than one month after independence, president Ahmed Abdallah was removed from office in an armed coup and replaced with United National Front of the Comoros (FNUK) member Prince Said Mohamed Jaffar.
  • On 4 March, fresh elections were held in which no single candidate for the president received a majority of the votes.
  • On 6 July 1975, however, the Comorian parliament passed a unilateral resolution declaring independence.
  • On 6 July 1975, nevertheless, the Comoros legislature unilaterally declared independence for all the islands, including Mayotte.
  • On 6 July 1975, the Comoros legislature unilaterally declared independence for all four islands, including Mayotte.