Africa
Comoros
The Comoros is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, lying between the northern tip of Madagascar and the African mainland. Three main islands make up the Comoros: Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli) and Nzwani (Anjouan). Each is surrounded by hundreds of tiny islets. A fourth island, Mayotte, is an overseas territory of France, but the Comoros’ government claims it as part of their nation. The islands are volcanic and hilly, covered in lush forests. They have a hot, tropical climate and a rainy season between October and April.
People
Comorians are descended from a mixture of the African, Arab, Malagasy (from Madagascar) and French peoples who have settled on the island since the 6th century. Most people speak Comorian, or Shikamor, a language with Arab and Swahili roots. A slightly different variation of the language is spoken on each of the islands. Many Comorian children go to religious schools where they learn to memorize parts of the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book.
Economy
The Comoros is a poor country, with about half of its people living in poverty. Nearly all the islanders fish or work on farms for a living, growing spices such as vanilla and cloves, for export. One of the Comoros' major exports is ylang-ylang, a natural oil used to make perfume. The Comorian population is rapidly growing, but the islands do not have enough natural resources to support all the extra people. Many Comorians have moved abroad to find work from where they send money home.
Consultant: Nicholas Harris
Facts about Comoros
Population 883,075 (2024 estimate)
Area 2235 sq km
Highest point Mont Kartala 2361 m (7744 ft)
Capital Moroni, population 111,326
Other major cities Moutsamoudou (pop. 23,600)
Languages Arabic, Comorian (Shikamor), French
Religions Muslim 98%, Christian (Roman Catholic) 2%
Ethnicity Malagasy / African, Malayo-Indonesian, Arab / African
Currency Comorian franc (KMF)
Chief exports vanilla, ylang-ylang (used in perfume), cloves, copra
History of Comoros
6th century
African peoples from the mainland and Madagascar arrive on the island by boat
11th century
Arab peoples, including the Shirazi from East Africa’s Swahili coast, arrive and settle on the island
1527
The Comoros islands are first drawn on a European map by Portuguese cartographer (map maker) Diego Ribero
1841
French buy the island of Maore (now Mayotte) and make it a French colony
1886
France takes control of the remaining three islands
1912
The whole of the Comoros becomes an official French colony, governed from Madagascar
1942
During World War II, Britain fights for control of the Comoros and Madagascar (then controlled by Nazi Germany as part of Vichy France) and hands the islands back to France after the war
1947
The Comoros is made an overseas territory of France, with representatives in the French parliament
1974
Three of the islands vote for independence, but Mayotte votes to stay part of France
1975
The Comoros declares independence with Ahmed Abdallah as president. He is overthrown in a coup the same year and replaced by Prince Said Mohammed Jaffar
1978
French military leader Colonel Bob Denard leads a group of soldiers to kill President Ali Soilih and return Ahmed Abdallah to power
1989
Denard leads another attempt to remove the president, Said Mohamed Djohar, from power, but France intervenes and he surrenders
1997
The islands of Anjouan and Mohéli declare independence from the rest of the Comoros
2001
A new constitution is created, keeping the three islands together as one country, but giving each one greater autonomy (the power to rule themselves)
2005
Mount Kartala erupts on Grande Comore, forcing thousands of villagers to flee
2007–08
Anjouan’s president, Mohamed Bacar, refuses to stand down in elections; African Union troops invade the island to keep peace
2009
The island of Mayotte votes to become fully integrated with France; the vote is rejected by the Comoros government
2013
The Comoros comes top in a survey of women’s rights in the Arab League