Comoros - Country info
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CountryComoros
Flag
Capitalname: Moroni
geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Population752,438 (July 2009 est.)
GMT+3
LocationSouthern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

see map
Areatotal: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Ethnic groupsAntalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
ReligionsSunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
LanguagesArabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Government typerepublic
National holidayIndependence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution23 December 2001
Legal systemFrench and Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
BackgroundComoros 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 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, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.
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LAST UPDATED ON 27 MARCH 2009