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Comoros beach
Fisher boats Comoros islands.
Image: Chamara Irugalratne
 
Location map of the Comoros. Where in Africa are the Comoros?
Location map of the Comoros
 
Flag of Comoros
Flag of Comoros
A virtual guide to the Union of the Comoros, a sovereign island nation in the Indian Ocean east of Mozambique, off the east coast of the African continent and west of the northern tip of Madagascar.



The Comoros consists of the four main islands: Ngazidja (French: Grande Comore), Mwali (French: Mohéli), Nzwani (French: Anjouan) and Maore (French: Mayotte), the contested island of Mayotte is administered by France. Nearest Countries to the Comoros are Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, and the Seychelles.

The combined area of the volcanic archipelago (including Mayotte) is 2,235 km², compared, the island nation is slightly smaller than Luxembourg or also slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

Comoros has a population of 770,000 (2015). Capital and largest city is Moroni on Grande Comore.
Spoken languages are Comorian (Comorian Swahili, a Bantu language), French, and Arabic. Islam is the official state religion, 98% of the population are Sunni Muslims.


Union of the Comoros | Union des Comores


Country Profile



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Official Name:
Union des Comores (French)
Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)
short form: Comores
int'l long form: Union of the Comoros
int'l short form: Comoros
Hist. name: Djazaïr Al Qamar (Islands of the Moon)

ISO Country Code: km, com

Time:
Local Time = UTC +3h
Actual Time: Mon-Mar-18  03:50

Country Calling Code: +269

Capital City: Moroni (pop. 60,000)

Other Cities: Mutsamudu (pop. 20,000)
Fomboni, Mamoutzou.

Government:
Type: Republic.
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France, Mayotte remains under French administration).
Constitution: Adopted by referendum on 23 December 2001.

Geography:
Location: Southern east Africa, group of islands at the Mozambique Channel which separates Madagascar from the African continent.
Area: 2,171 km² (838 sq. mi.)
Major islands: Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mayotte (administered by France), and Moheli.
Terrain: Volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills.
Highest point: Le Kartala (an active volcano; 2360 m)

Climate: Tropical marine.

People:
Nationality: Comorian(s).
Population: 770,000 (2015)
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava.
Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%.
Languages: Shikomor (Comorian, a Swahili-Arabic blend), Arabic, French, Swahili.
Literacy: 57%.

Natural resources: Few natural resources.

Agriculture products: Vanilla, ylang-ylang, jasmine, cassis, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Industries: Tourism, perfume distillation.

Exports partners: India 28.7%, France 17%, Germany 8.7%, Saudi Arabia 7.1%, Singapore 6.6%, Netherlands 6.1%, Mauritius 5.3% (2015)

Imports partners: China 18.9%, Pakistan 16.2%, France 14.7%, UAE 11.3%, India 6.3% (2015)

Currency: Comoran Franc (KMF)



Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Comoros


Présidence de l'Union des Comores
Official website of the Presidency of the Union of the Comoros (Site being updated)

Gouvernement Union des Comores
(Site being updated)

Commission de l'Océan Indien
Indian Ocean Commission (COI) is an intergovernmental organization that joins Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, France (for Réunion), and the Seychelles together to encourage cooperation.

Ministère des Relations Extérieures et de la Coopération
Comoros Ministry of External Relations and Cooperation.

Permanent Mission of the Union of the Comoros
Permanent Mission of the Union of the Comoros to the United Nations.
Embassy of the Comoros in Washington DC
Official site of the Embassy of the Comoros to the United States, Canada and Cuba.

Maps

Map of Comoros
Political map of Comoros.

Google Earth Google Earth Comoros
Searchable map and satellite view of Comoros.
Google Earth Google Earth Moroni
Searchable map and satellite view of Comoros' capital city.

Map of Africa
Political Map of Africa.
Relief Map of Africa



Anjouan Island, Comoros
Anjouan Island, Comoros
Image: Haryamouji

Comoros News


Al Watwan
Comoros online weekly news (in French)

Comores Info
Comoros related news (in French)

Le Canal
News and information covering the Mozambique Channel region (in French).

Radio/TV

Office de Radio Télévion des Comores (ORTC)

Radio Ocean Indien
 

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Arts & Culture


Comoros Islands Encyclopedia
The site includes information about arts and culture of the Comoros.

Nawal Mlanao 
Afro Sufi Roots. Musician from Comoros.
Comoros Archipelago
Comoros Beach Scenery

Business & Economy

Another one of the world's poorest countries. Its economy is a mostly rural, agricultural economy, hampered by inadequate transportation links, a low educational level of the labor force, and few natural resources.
The country is heavy dependent on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture and forestry, accounts for 50% of GDP, it employs 80% of the labor force and provides most of the exports. Main crops are vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata). Comoros government is struggling to provide basic services, upgrade education and technical training.


Societé Nationale des Postes et Services Financiers
The National Mail and Financial Service enterprise.

Comores Télécom

African Economic Outlook Comores
African Economic Outlooksummary about Comoros' economy.

Transportation 
Comores Aviation International
Serves destinations on the Comoros archipelago, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar (Tanzania).
 
Banga
Bangas - traditional Comorian buildings
Sunset at Mohéli island
Sunset near Nioumachoua seen on Mwali (Mohéli) island.
Image: Hannah Jane

Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Destination Comoros - Travel and Tour Guides


Main islands: Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), Mayotte (Maore) and Mohéli (Mwali)

Nature in the Comoros Islands conjures up images of peace: white beaches fringed by coconut palms, multicolored tropical gardens, myriad shells and fish, including the famous coelacanth which dates back 350 million years, bush babies and sea turtles.

The perfumes of vanilla and cloves mingle with that of ylang-ylang flowers, one of the country's oldest sources of wealth. As well as natural beauty, visitors can also appreciate the islands' history and culture.

Revenue from tourism is jeopardized by poor services for transport, water, electricity and health, and the unstable political climate.

Comoros Woman
Comoros: Woman grinding coconuts
Comores Tourisme
Official website of the Ministry of Tourism with tourist information about the islands.


COMORO ISLANDS Les Comores
The Comoro Islands' Home Page with comprehensive information about the archipelago.

Comores islands - les îles de la lune
Comoros portal site with travel and tourism information.


Mayotte
Comité du Tourisme de Mayotte
Official tourism website of Mayotte.
l'île au Lagon
More Mayotte tourism (in French)
Malango-Mayotte
A travel and tourism portal site about Mayotte (in French)

 
 
Students in class at Coulee school in Moroni
Students in class at the Coulee school in Moroni.
Image: Global Partnership for Education - GPE

Education


Université des Comores
Official website of the University of the Comoros (UDC) a publicly-owned institution founded in 2003, Moroni (in French; temporarily not online).

 
 
Chomoni village Comoros
Chomoni village Comoros
Image: rabemananoro

Environment & Nature


Coelacanths
Web site about that 400 million year old "living fossil" fish, living in the waters around Comoros.
Moidjio C.R.C.A.D.
Site of the Centre for Research Conservation and Development.
Le Programme Régional à la Promotion d'une Education pour la Gestion de l'Environnement (ARPEGE)
Indian Ocean Commission program for the environment (in French).
PNUD Comores
Site of the UN environment development program for the Comoros (in French).
 
 

History


History of Comoros
Wikipedia entry about the History of Comoros.
 
 

Sources and additional Information on Comoros


Africa South of the Sahara: Comoros
Stanford University.

BBC Country Profile: Comoros

GlobalEDGE: Comoros

Indian Ocean Commission: Comoros

Open Directory Project: Comoros

Wikipedia: Comoros

The World Factbook -- Comoros
 
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Major cities of Eastern Africa
Addis Ababa, Antananarivo, Asmara, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti (City), Dodoma, Harare, Kampala, Kigali, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mogadishu, Moroni, Nairobi, Port Louis, Saint-Denis, Victoria

Other Countries of Eastern Africa
Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique
Réunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
 
 
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