THE UNION OF THE COMOROS
The islands became a French colony following the Berlin conference of 1886-7 and remained under French political control until 1975. 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 (Maore), 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 United Nations General Assembly. Separatists on the islands of Nzwani and Mwali declared their islands to be independent from the Republic in 1997. This led to the breakup of the Republic and a reformation of the government of the Comoro Islands as a Union in 2002. Presidential elections are to be held every four years. The next election is scheduled for April of 2006.
General information about the Comoro Islands can be found below under the following categories. A young Comorian woman from the island of Nzwani says, "Wangalie!" ("Take a look!")
F National Name: Union des Comores
F President: Azali Assoumani (2002)
F Area: 838 sq mi (2,170 sq km)
F Population (2005 est.): 671,247 (growth rate: 2.9%);
birth rate: 37.5/1000;
infant mortality rate: 74.9/1000;
life expectancy: 62.0; density per sq mi: 801
F Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Moroni (on Grande Comoro), 60,200
F Monetary unit: Franc (1€ = 500FCF)
F Languages: Arabic and French (both official), Shikomoro (Swahili/Arabic blend)
F Ethnicity/race: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
F Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
F Literacy rate: 57% (2003 est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP: (2002 est.) $441 million; per capita $700. Real growth rate: 2%. Inflation: 3.5% (2001 est.). Unemployment: 20% (1996 est.). Arable land: 36%. Agriculture: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca). Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.): agriculture 80%. Industries: tourism, perfume distillation. Natural resources: negl. Exports: $28 million (f.o.b., 2002 est.): vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra. Imports: $88 million (f.o.b., 2002 est.): rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment. Major trading partners: France, Germany, U.S., Singapore, Japan, South Africa, UAE, Kenya, Mauritius (2003).
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 7,000 (2000); mobile cellular: n.a. Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001). Radios: 90,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 0 (1998). Televisions: 1,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000). Internet users: 2,500 (2002).
Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 880 km; paved: 673 km; unpaved: 207 km (1999 est.). Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou. Airports: 4 (2002).
Geography
The Comoros Islands—Grande Comoro (Ngazidja), Anjouan, Mohéli, and Mayotte (which is not part of the country and retains ties to France)—constitute an archipelago of volcanic origin in the Indian Ocean, 190 mi off the coast of Mozambique.
Government
Emerging republic.
History
Comoros was frequented by travelers from Africa, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Arabia before the first Europeans encountered the islands. Arabic influence has been the strongest.
France colonized Mayotte in 1843 and by 1904 had annexed the remainder of the archipelago. In a 1974 referendum, 95% of the population voted for independence. The exception was Mayotte, which, with its Christian majority, voted against joining the other mainly Islamic islands in independence. Today it remains a French overseas territory.
The remaining Comoros islands declared themselves independent on July 6, 1975, with Ahmed Abdallah as president. A month after independence, he was overthrown by Justice Minister Ali Soilih. This was only the beginning of Comoros's chronic instability: the country has gone through more than 20 coups since independence and has experienced several attempts at secession. Orchestrating at least four of these coups was a group of white mercenaries known as Les Affreux (The Terrible Ones), and their notorious leader, Frenchman “Colonel” Bob Denard. Denard fled Comoros in 1989, when 3,000 French soldiers were sent after him.
The island of Anjouan declared independence on Aug. 3, 1997, after months of protests and clashes with security forces. The secessionists wanted a return to French rule, contending that independence from France has brought economic disaster and political chaos. Mohéli, the smallest island, also seceded. But France refused to support the secession of either island. In Sept. 1997, President Mohamed Taki's forces attempted to retake Anjouan but failed.
In 1999, Col. Azali Assoumani led a coup, overthrowing interim president Tadjidine. He promised interim military rule would end in a year, a pledge the Organization of African Unity would continue to remind him of. After years of aborted peace talks, a new constitution was approved in March 2002, and the three islands were reunited. Each island elected its own president, and in May a federal president was elected from Grande Comoro, former military coup leader Azali. In Feb. 2003, a coup against Azali was thwarted.
A power-sharing agreement signed in Dec. 2003 gave the individual islands semi-autonomous status and led to elections in March and April 2004. A National Assembly was sworn in July 2004.
Principal Government Officials President--Azali Assoumani Minister of Foreign Affairs--Aboudou Soefou Representative to the United States and Ambassador to the United Nations--Mahmoud M. Aboud
Comoros maintains a mission to the United States at 336 E. 45th St., 2d floor, New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212-750-1637).
NATIONAL SECURITY The military resources of the Comoros consist of a small standing army and a 500-member police force, as well as a 500-member defense force. A defense treaty with France provides naval resources for protection of territorial waters, training of Comorian military personnel, and air surveillance. France maintains a small maritime base and a Foreign Legion contingent on Mayotte.
FOREIGN RELATIONS In November 1975, Comoros became the 143rd member of the United Nations. The new nation was defined as consisting of the entire archipelago, despite the fact that France maintains control over Mayotte.
Comoros also is a member of the African Union, the European Development Fund, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Indian Ocean Commission, and the African Development Bank.
TOURISM
LE GALAWA BEACH HOTEL
Situated three hundred kilometres off the shore of East Africa halfway to the northern tip of Madagascar, are the magical, Perfumed Ilses of Les Comoros. Grande Comore is home to Le Galawa Beach Hotel – making this hotel the closest and most easily accessible tropical islands hotel to South Africa.
Le Galawa Beach Hotel & Casino - the pride of the Perfumed Isles of Les Comores - is located on two of the finest beaches on the northern tip of Grande Comore and is a mere 3 hours flight from Johannesburg International Airport.
With its year-round mild weather, secluded white sand tropical beaches, dense palm forests, incredible scuba diving, spectacular lakes and waterfalls, the Comores offers a wealth of memory-making opportunities for everyone including snorkeling for kids.
We certainly won't hesitate promoting Le Galawa at any given opportunity and we're hoping to go back sometime too!.......... Read more
One of the prime attractions to Comoros is the superb diving sites varying from prestine coral reefs to ship wrecks and vertical volcanic walls. The ideal sea and diving conditions are between March and November due to the calm sea. Both day and night diving is available. Contact us for our diving packages that can be tailored according to your needs.
This family-friendly resort offers kids the choice of either an action-packed adventure holiday and perfect peace and seclusion for the parents.
The comfortable rooms are set in lush tropical gardens and are all sea-facing. The rooms include en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, telephone and television.
Le Galawa has one of the largest boathouses in the Indian Ocean and by day offers a vast range of motorised and non-motorised water sports plus the opportunity to experience the finest scuba diving vacation ever and when the sun sets there's wonderful themed buffets and scintillating entertainment.
Le Galawa Beach Hotel provides the ideal tropical island holiday as the beautiful tropical beaches are totally safe for even the smallest holidaymaker!
