Udzima wa Komori (Comoran)
Union des Comores (French)
Jumhuriyat al Qamar al Muttahidah (Arabic)

Origin of Name "Comoros" is derived from the Arabic word kamar (or kumr), meaning "moon." Originally given to the island of Madagascar by Arab geographers, the name was adopted by French colonists to describe the Comoros.

Location a group of four islands between the mainland of Africa and the island of Madagascar

Total Area 838 sq mi (2,171 sq km)
Coastline 243 mi (391 km)
Lowest Point sea level
Highest Point Mont Karthala; 7,746 ft (2,361m)
Natural Resources negligible

Nationality Comoran
Population (July 2014 est) 766,865
Largest Cities Moroni
Ethnic Groups Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions Sunni Muslim
Languages Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)

Capital Moroni
Form of Government republic
Current Constitution Adopted December 23, 2001
Chief of State and Head of Government President Azail Assoumani (since May 26, 2016)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the President
Legislature unicameral Assembly of the Union
Judiciary Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Local Administration 3 islands and 4 municipalities (although the island of Mayotte is claimed by Comoros it is administered by France)

Currency Comoran franc
Per Capita Income $1,300
Principal Industries fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Agricultural Products vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava
Principal Exports vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, copra
Principal Imports rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment

Independence from France Achieved July 6, 1965
Flag the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -- Mwali, N'gazidja, Ndzuwani, and Mahore (Mayotte is officially a department of France, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

SEE ALSO
Madagascar

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SKC Films Library >> General and Old World History >> Africa >> Comoros

This page was last updated on 02/18/2017.