:: MEDEA ::

Conventional name: Comoros Union
Etymology: From the Arabic word qamar, meaning «moon». Before European contact the name Qamr referred to Madagascar and associated islands.
Surface area: 2,170 Km² (three main islands and a great number of islets distant 300 km/190 miles from the eastern coast of Africa).
Comparison with a European country: 2/3 of Luxembourg.
Capital : Moroni.
Administrative Divisions : three islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali).
Population (2004): 690,948 (2006 est.)
Population Density (July 2005): 309 inhabitants/km²
Young people (under 15 years old) (est. 2004): 42,8%
Population Growth (1995-2000): 2.9%; (2004): 2.87% (2006)
Fecundity rate (1995-2000): 5.4; (2004):5.15
Life Expectancy (1995-2000): 58,8; (2004): 62.33 (2006)
Infant Mortality Rate (1995-2000): 76.3%; (2004) 77.22%
Urban Population (1999): 32.6%
Illiteracy Rate (2003): men: 36.4%; women: 50.7%
Ethnic background: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Skikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Religions: Sunni Muslims (98.%) / Christians (2%)
HDI (Human Development Index, UNDP figures 2002): within the 173 Countries selected the Comoros archipelago is ranked 137 (rate 0.511, middle human developement) (PNUD, 2OO2)
Currency: Comoran franc (KMF) (1 US $= 395.6 Comoran francs, 2005) Gross Domestic Product- GDP (2005): 402 million US$
Gross Domestic Product Per Capita (2005): 600 US $
Annual growth: 1.3% (1990-2000); 2% (2003)
Unemployment rate (est. 1996): 20%
Labour Force by Sector of Activity: agriculture 80%
Industries: tourism, perfume distillation
Agriculture Products : vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports (2004): 34 million f.o.b. US$
Imports (2004): 115 million f.o.b. US $
Major trading partners: Exports: France, Singapore, Germany; Imports: France (23.5%), South Africa (11%), Kenya (7.5%), Pakistan (4.7%), Italy (4.9%), UAE (7.2%), Singapore (4.1%)
Total External Debt (2000):232 million US $
Year of Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
Admitted in the United Nations in: 1975.
Member i.a. of: League of Arab States , Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA) >
State nature: Federal Republic
Political system: Presidential

Chief of state (President) : M. Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi (Since May 25 2006)

Government of mai 27 2006

Vice-President in charge of Ministry of Transports, Posts, Telecommunications, Communication and Tourism : M. Idi Nadhoim
Vice-President in charge of Ministry of Health and Solidarity : M. Ikilikou Dhoinine
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in charge of the Diaspora, Francophonie and Arab Wolrd : M. Ahmed Ben Said Jaffar

Some features:

The islands were first inhabited early in the first millenium, forming an important link in the trading networks between Southern Asia and East African coast. The Comoros developped as a supply point on the European route to the east and were later pivotal in the Indian Ocean slave trade. The islands were populated by successive waves of immigrants from Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar and Arabs. The Comoros were under Arab influence, since 933 (notably Shiragi Arabs from Persia) until the XIX Century.

The islands became a French colony after the Berlin conference of 1886. Three of the islands: Ngazidja, Mwali, and Nzwani, declared themselves independent from France in 1975 and became the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoro Islands. The fourth major island of the archipelago, Mayotte, continued to be administered by France although it's status has been continuously challenged by the Comorian government. The claim that Mayotte belongs within the sphere of the independent nation of the Comoros has been recognized by the UN General Assembly.

Since independence in 1975, the Comoros experienced 18 coups d'etat or attempted coups d'etat. Three of them were led by a French mercenary, Bob Denard. The most recent military coup abruptly removed from office a civilian government on 30th April 1999.

Several separatists movements have taken place in the country since independence. The latest crisis started in August 1997 when the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence and self determination from the main island of Grand Comores. Peace talks held in Madagascar under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) reached a deal in April 1999 according to which the three islands would have their own parliament and would become a Republic named "Union of Comoran islands". The Presidency would rotate between them every three years.

The new Constitution was adopted in 2001. So far, the institutional transition process has been chaotic, and problems persist regarding the competencies’ distribution between the Union and the different islands.

The Sunnite Islam practised in the islands is combined with many pre-Islamic customs of African origin.

The Comoros became a member of the Arab League in 1993.

There is a quite significant migration (mainly to France and Mayotte). The transfers of this diaspora provide substantial income for the country.

Comoros stands among the poorest cuntries in Africa and is heavily dependent on foreign aid. The regular financial debt is usually covered by France.

Chronical instability have left the islands disadvantaged and unable to develop a flourishing touristic industry that would boost the economy.

The Comoros are highly dependent on imported food which usually represents 40% of all imports.

France has remained by far the most important trading partner.

About 70% of the population is involved in the agricultural sector, which consists of subsistence agriculture and the production of three export products: vanilla, cloves and perfume essence. The primary sector accounts for 40% of the GDP. The governement is trying to curb population growth and to privatize, reconvert the economy from an agricultural self sufficient model into an industrial and diversified one.

The country's debt has been restructured by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the government was forced to accept a ''structural adjustment package''.

See also :

Comoros, Elections and Parliament.