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Comoros & Mayotte
The Comoros islands are wrapped in a fragrant blend of ylang-ylang oil, Arabic aesthetics, African warmth and French chic. There are cobblestoned medinas with higgledy-piggledy lanes and old world charm; ports bristling with white sailed dhows; tropical moons rising over white beaches; the sun setting over the ocean in a riot of reds and oranges; and a colourful history of sultans and soothsayers, plantantion owners and eloping princesses.
But despite all these charms Comoros and Mayotte remain the least frequented and least travelled of all the islands in the region. This may have something to do with the islands' reputation as a backwater, or it just might have something to do with the political coups, civilian riots and seccessionist plots that come and go with seasonal punctuality. Not for nothing has Comoros been nicknamed Coup-Coup Land.
Full country names: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros; Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
Area: Comoros covers an area of 2230 sq km (870 sq mi) and Mayotte 375 sq km (146 sq mi)
Population: Comoros 150,000; Mayotte 88,000
Capital city: Moroni (Comoros); Mamoudzou (Mayotte)
People: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Language: Arabic, French, Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) and Mahorian (a Swahili dialect)
Religion: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14% (Comoros); Muslim 99%, Roman Catholic 1% (Mayotte)
Government: Independent Republic (Comoros); Territorial collectivity of France (Mayotte)
President (Comoros): Azaly Assoumani
Prime Minister (Comoros): Bianrifi Tarmidi
Chief of State (Mayotte): President of France, Jacques Chirac
Prefect of Mayotte: Pierre Bayle
GDP: US$$400 million
GDP per head: Comoros US$700, Mayotte US$600
Annual growth: 3.5%
Inflation: 2.5%
Major industries: tourism, perfume distillation, vanilla, cloves
Major trading partners: EU, USA, South Africa, Kenya
Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president was sworn in on May 26, 2002.
3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
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, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP
Comoros
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Web Pages
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CIA Factbook - Comoros - http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cn.html
Features map and brief descriptions of geography, economy, government, and people
Arab.net | Comoros - http://www.arab.net/comoros/
Background notes on history, geography, business and government.
The Country & People of Comoros - http://www.hejleh.com/countries/comoros.html
A brief history and links.
BBC Country Profile: Comoros - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1070727.stm
Quick facts.
Comoros Portal, Search Engine & Directory - http://www.arabji.com/comoros
A few links from a pan-arab portal.
FOC Country Profile - Comoros - http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1019672541242
Notes on geography, history, politics, economy, international relations, travel, current affairs.
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