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Comoros: Comoros Islands
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The Union of the Comoros is a constitutional, multiparty republic of approximately 690,000 citizens. The country consists of three islands--Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli--and claims a fourth, Mayotte, which France governs. In May citizens elected President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi in polling that international observers described as free and fair; Sambi's May 26 inauguration was the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power in the country's history. Disputes continued over the division of responsibilities between union and island governments and the union government's nonpayment of salary to its employees, including teachers and doctors. The civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces.
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The Comoros Islands are of volcanic origin and are mountainous. The highest peak, Kartala (2,361 m/7,746 ft) on Njazidja, is an active volcano. The islands have a tropical climate with a rainy season lasting from November to April and a cooler dry season prevailing the rest of the year. About 53 per cent (1997) of the country's land area is devoted to arable land, and soil degradation and erosion have resulted from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing. A relatively high proportion of the islands' limited biodiversity is threatened, and fishing and tourism are damaging coral reefs.
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South Africa and the Comoros have had official relations since 1983. Following the signing of the Fomboni All-Party Framework Agreement of 17 February 2001, presidential elections for the three sister islands and for the Union of Comoros were held in March and April 2002. South Africa, as the AU-mandated Co-ordinator of the Countries of the Region on the Comoros, is currently facilitating and closely monitoring the transition process.
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Politics of the Union of the Comoros takes place in a framework of a federal presidential republic, whereby the President of the Comoros is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. The Constitution of the Union of the Comoros was ratified by referendum on December 23, 2001, and the islands' constitutions and executives were elected in the following months. It had previously been considered a military dictatorship, and the transfer of power from Azali Assoumani to Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi in May 2006 was the first peaceful transfer in Comorian history. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The preamble of the constitution guarantees an Islamic inspiration in governance, a commitment to human rights, and several specific enumerated rights, democracy, "a common destiny" for all Comorians.
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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.
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The Comoros is formed by Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli), Nzwani (Anjouan), and Mahoré (Mayotte), the major islands in the Comoros Archipelago, as well as many minor islets. The islands are officially known by their Comorian language names, though international sources still use their French names (in parentheses) commonly. The capital and largest city, Moroni, is located on Ngazidja. The archipelago is situated in the Indian Ocean, in the Mozambique Channel, between the African coast (nearest to Mozambique and Tanzania) and Madagascar, with no land borders. At 2,235 km² (863 sq mi), it is one of the smallest countries in the world. The Comoros ... has claim to 320 km² (124 sq mi) of territorial seas.
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