Comoros
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Comoros
Country name - conventional long form : Union of the Comoros
Country name - conventional short form : Comoros
Country name - local long form : Union des Comores
Country name - local short form : Comores
Country name - former :
Country code : CN
Government type : republic
Capital - name : Moroni
Capital - time difference : UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Population : 731,775 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Comoran(s)
Nationality - adjective : Comoran
Languages : Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Currency (code) : Comoran franc (KMF)
Currency code : KMF
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
Comoros is located Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique. The climate is tropical marine; rainy season (November to May). The terrain is volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002 Presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI took office. Since 2006, Anjouan's President Mohamed BACAR has refused to work effectively with the Union presidency. In 2007, BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.
