Comoros
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Comoros (officially "Union of the Comoros") is a nation composed of three islands (Ngazidja or "Grande Comore", Mwali or "Mohéli" and Nzwani or "Anjouan" in the Indian Ocean east of the African coast (Tanzania) and north west of Madagascar. It also claims a fourth island Mayotte or "Mahoré" which is under French administration.
Comoros's major environmental issues include: soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; and deforestation. It is susceptible to cyclones during the rainy season (December to April) and Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano.
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. Azalo 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 was elected to office. 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, African Union and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.
Geography
Location :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
Geographic Coordinate: 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Area: 2,170 km2 (2,170 km2 land and 0 km2 water)
arable land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2005)
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime Claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural Hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano.
Terrain: Volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills. Its lowest point is the Indian Ocean (0 metres) and its highest point is Le Kartala (2,360 metres).
Climate:Tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Government
Government Type: Republic
Capital: Moroni
Independence Date: 6 July 1975 (from France)
Legal System: French and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
International Agreement
Environmental-international Agreement:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People and Society
Population: 731,775 (July 2008 est.)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 42.4% (male 155,662/female 154,520)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 197,178/female 202,231)
65 years and over: 3% (male 10,203/female 11,981) (2008 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 2.803% (2008 est.)
Birthrate: 35.78 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death Rate: 7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net Migration Rate: NA
Life Expectancy at Birth:
total population: 63.1 years
male: 60.72 years
female: 65.55 years (2008 est.)
Total Fertility Rate: 4.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Language: Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Water
Total Renewable Water Resources: 1.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater Withdrawal: Total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48% domestic, 5% industrial, 47% agriculture). Per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)
Agriculture
Agricultural Products: vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Resources
Natural Resources: Negligible
Energy
| Production | Consumption | Exports | Imports | Reserves | |
| Electricity | 20 million kWh (2005) | 18.6 million kWh (2005) | 0 kWh (2005) | 0 kWh (2005) | |
| Oil | 0 bbl/day (2005) | 700 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2004) | 709.1 bbl/day (2004) | 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Natural Gas | 0 cu m (2005 est.) | 0 cu m (2005 est.) | 0 cu m (2005 est.) | 0 cu m (2005) | 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Source: CIA Factbook | |||||
Conflict
International Disputes: Claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces are called in to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001
Economy
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, 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 - which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. The political problems caused the economy to contract in 2007. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $1.262 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (Official Exchange Rate): $442 million (2007 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -1% (2007 est.)
GDP-per capita (PPP): $1,100 (2007 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line: 60% (2002 est.)
Industries: fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Exports: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra
Export Partners: Turkey 37.8%, France 27.3%, Singapore 9.1%, Saudi Arabia 4% (2006)
Imports: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Import Partners: France 18%, UAE 10.7%, South Africa 7.2%, Pakistan 7.1%, China 5.8%, Kenya 5.6%, India 4.9% (2006)
Economic Aid Recipient: $25.23 million (2005 est.)
Currency: Comoran franc (KMF)
Ports and Terminals: Mayotte, Mutsamudu
Further Reading