| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
12° 10' South Latitude
44° 15' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
2,170 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) |
| Natural Resources |
NEGL |
|
| Political Information |
 |
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| Country Name |
Union of the Comoros |
| Capital City |
Moroni |
| Government Type |
Independent republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou |
| Independence Day |
6 July 1975 (from France) |
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| Demographical Information |
|
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| Population |
671,247 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Comoran |
| Ethnic Groups |
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava |
| Religion |
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% |
| Languages |
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.91% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Comoran franc (KMF) |
| Industries |
Tourism, perfume distillation |
| Labor Force |
144,500 (1996 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 80% |
| Agriculture Products |
Vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) |
| Export Commodities |
Vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra |
| Export Partners |
US 42.2%, France 18%, Singapore 16%, Turkey 4.7% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment |
| Import Partners |
France 24.4%, South Africa 11.5%, UAE 7.3%, Kenya 6.1%, Italy 5.1%, Mauritius 4.8%, Singapore 4.2% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
880 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
4 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Mayotte, Moutsamoudou |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+269 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.km |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 26 May 2002. |
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