Comoros

The Union of the Comoros (Comorian: Udzima wa Komori; French: Union des Comores; Arabic: الاتحاد القمري, al-Ittiḥād al-Qumurī/Qamarī), or simply the Comoros or Comoros (formerly Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros ), is an independent country made up of three islands in southeastern Africa, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, between northern Madagascar and eastern Mozambique.

The country consists of three volcanic islands: Grand Comore (Ngazidja), Mohéli (Mwali) and Anjouan (Nzwani), while the neighboring island of Mayotte (Mahore), claimed by Comoros, remains French. The territory also includes other small islands.

Comoros is a member state of the African Union, of the International Organization of La Francophonie, of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, of the Arab League (of which it is the southernmost state of the countries it groups, and is also the only State included in the Arab League that is totally circumscribed to the Southern Hemisphere) and the Indian Ocean Commission.

The name derives from the Arabic word قمر (qamar), "moon". The current name in Arabic is precisely "islands of the moon" (جزر القمر, ŷuzuru l-qamar), and the Muslim crescent appears on its flag. This name had been used by Arab geographers to refer to Madagascar.

Since declaring independence, the country has experienced more than twenty coups or attempted coups, with several heads of state assassinated. Alongside this ongoing political instability, the people of the Comoros live with the worst income inequality of any nation, with a Gini coefficient of over 60%, while also ranking in a low quartile of the Human Development Index. As of 2008, approximately half of the population lives below the international poverty index of $1.25 a day.

History

The first human inhabitants of the Comoro Islands are believed to have been Austronesian peoples, followed by African Bantu arrivals, and finally European settlers. They settled there around the 6th century. The oldest archaeological area is in Nzwani, although some sources speculate that the settlement already existed in the 1st century. The Comoros Islands were gradually settled through a succession of various groups from the coast of Africa, the Persian Gulf, of the Malay Archipelago, and Madagascar. Swahili-speaking settlers arrived on the islands as part of the Bantu expansion that took place in Africa during the first millennium.

The documented historical development of the Comoros began with Swahili influence, consolidating in the Dembeni era (9th-10th century), during which each island maintained a single central town. In the 11th to 15th centuries, trade with the island of Madagascar and Middle Eastern merchants flourished, giving rise to smaller towns and the growth of existing cities. Citizens and historians of the State of Comoros claim that the first Arab settlements existed even before the arrival of the Swahilis on the archipelago, who often trace their genealogies back to the arrival of Arab ancestors, who would have traveled from Yemen and ancient Kingdom of Sheba in Aden, a city that is popularly considered in the Comoros as the Biblical Eden, although there is no scientific certainty to affirm the latter.

Arab conquest

Arab traders were the first to bring Islamic influence to the islands. Most likely, the slave trade in Africa by the Arabs resulted in the increased spread and dominance of Arab culture. As their religion gained prestige, large mosques were built. The Comoro Islands, like other coastal areas in the region, were part of the important Islamic trade routes that the Persians and Arabs frequented. Despite its distance from the coast, Comoros is located on the sea route between the main ports of Kilwa and Mozambique, at the outlet of Zimbabwe's gold.

By the 19th century, the influence of Arabic-speaking Sunni Persians from Shiraz and Iran had dominated the islands. Shiraz maintained intense trade relations along the coasts of East Africa and the Middle East, which is why settlements and colonies developed in the archipelago. This generated a sustained growth of Arab cultural influence in the Comoros, especially in architecture and religion. The islands changed hands during the 16th and 17th centuries, but always under the control of Arab sultanates.

When Europeans showed interest in the Comoros, the Arab cultural heritage of the islands prevailed to the detriment of the African heritage. However, studies published by Thomas Spear and Randall Pouwells highlight the historical predominance of African culture over the Arab perspective.

This archipelago served ancient navigators as a bridge between the African continent and Madagascar, and was also an important strategic point for Arab traders.

Contact with Europeans

Sultan Said Ali bin Said Omar from the island of Great Comora in a photo of 1897.

Portuguese explorers visited the archipelago as early as 1505 and caused the destruction of the commercial economy of the islands. Afonso de Albuquerque himself sacked the islands in 1514; The Muslim regent miraculously escaped hiding in a volcano where he was not found by the Portuguese. When the Sultan of Oman succeeded in expelling the Portuguese from the region, they came under the influence of Zanzibar and the slave trade of the Bantu settlers increased considerably.

During the 19th century, after the separation of Zanzibar from the Sultanate of Oman, the Europeans pressed and France occupied Mayotte in 1841 and later the rest of the archipelago between 1886 and 1909. In 1912 the islands were under the administration of the Governor General from Madagascar. Later, French colonizers, French-owned companies and wealthy Arab merchants established a plantation-based economy that now encompasses a third of the country's territory to export their crops.

Independence

In 1946, France granted it administrative autonomy under the name of Overseas Territory of the Comoros Islands. An agreement was rejected by France in 1973 to grant independence in 1978. However, on July 6, 1975, the Comorian Parliament issued a resolution declaring independence. Deputies from Mayotte, which remained under French control, abstained.

The President of the Council of the Comoros, Ahmed Abdallah Abderamane, was overthrown a month later by the left-wing opposition led by Ali Solilih, a supporter of improving relations with France. The French mercenary Bob Denard, with the support of Paris, then landed to capture Ahmed Abdallah Abderamane, who had taken refuge on his island of Anjouan. Ali Soilih came to power and pursued a socialist policy, in turn demanding that France return Mayotte.

Once again at the request of the French intelligence service, SDECE, Bob Denard organized a new coup d'état, this time aimed at reinstating Ahmed Abdallah Abderamane, who was more willing towards France from his exile in France. Ali Soilih was captured on May 13, 1978, and executed a few weeks later. The country adopts a new constitution and the name Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros is adopted; the following year the single party regime was established. For the next ten years, Bob Denard was Abdallah Abderamane's first adviser; Nicknamed the "Viceroy of the Comoros," he is sometimes regarded as the regime's true strongman. Very close to South Africa, which finances his & # 34; presidential guard & # 34;, allows Paris to bypass the international embargo on the apartheid regime through Moroni. He also created a permanent mercenary corps from the archipelago, called upon to intervene at the request of Paris or Pretoria in the conflicts in Africa.

In 1983 and 1985, coup attempts against Abdallah failed, but he was assassinated in 1989. On September 28, 1995, a group of European mercenaries led by Bob Denard and supported by Comorian soldiers overthrew the government and took over as hostage to President Said Mohamed Yohar; but special French forces arrive from Mayotte to reverse the coup.

In 1997, the islands of Anyuan and Mohéli declared their independence from Comoros, but the government managed to re-establish control over the rebels.

Government and politics

Moroni, capital of Comoros.

The country's situation has been very volatile since its independence in 1975, with coups and popular insurrections. Colonel Azali Assoumani seized power in a bloody coup in April 1999, ousting interim president Tadjiddine Ben Said Massounde, who had taken office after the mysterious death of president-elect Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim in November 1998.

After the peace agreements signed on February 17, 2001 between the government and the separatists, a constitution was drawn up approved in a referendum on December 23 of the same year, renaming the country Union of Comoros, with the islands of Grand Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli having wide autonomy, with their own president and their own constitutional text. The union presidency rotates among the candidates from the three islands after four years.

The incumbent president has been Azali Assoumani since 2016.

Human Rights

In terms of human rights, regarding membership of the seven bodies of the International Bill of Human Rights, which include the Human Rights Committee (HRC), Comoros has signed or ratified:

Status of major international human rights instruments

Comoros	International treaties
	CESCR		CCPR			CERD	CED	CEDAW		CAT		CRC			MWC	CRPD
	CESCR	CESCR-OP	CCPR	CCPR-OP1	CCPR-OP2-DP			CEDAW	CEDAW-OP	CAT	CAT-OP	CRC	CRC-OP-AC	CRC-OP-SC		CRPD	CRPD-OP
Pertenence
Signed and ratified, signed, but not ratified, neither signed nor ratified, without information, it has agreed to sign and ratify the body concerned, but also recognizes the competence to receive and process individual communications from the competent bodies.

Territorial organization

Map of Comoros and Mayotte.

It is divided into three main islands:

• Great Comora (Great Comoros)Ngazidja)
• Anyuan (Nzwani)
• Mohéli (Mwali)

• Note: There are four municipalities: Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni and Mutsamudu
• See also: Annex:Localities of Comoros

Geography

Coast of Comoros bathed by waters of the Indian Ocean.

Comoros is a small country in Africa and is part of the Comoros archipelago, formed from northeast to southeast by the island of Grand Comore (Ngazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anyuan (Nzwani). To the southeast is the island of Mayotte, which is still French.

The capital is Moroni, which is located in Grand Comore. The islands are of volcanic origin, with a rugged, mountainous relief that reaches its highest elevation at the top of the active volcano Karthala at 2,360 m above sea level on the main island. The archipelago constitutes the ecoregion called Jungle of the Comoros. The coelacanth fish, called gombesa by the locals, can be found in the waters near these islands.

Economy

View of the port and the city of Mutsamudu.

Comoros is considered a country with a medium HDI, although according to the poverty line, only 20% of Comorians can be classified as poor, so their situation is better compared to other developing countries, since which in this indicator shows a percentage of 30 points less compared to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty has decreased by 10% between 2014 and 2018, and living conditions have improved. Economic inequality continues to be high, with a greater difference between rural and urban areas. Remittances from the Comorian diaspora make up a significant part of GDP, and have served to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life.

According to the ILO statistical database, the unemployment rate is approximately 4.3%. However, according to the Ministry of Planning and Regional Development, the registered unemployment rate is 14, 3% (2005). The distribution is very uneven between the different islands, and there is a greater urban incidence.

In 2017 it became a member of SADC and became a full member in 2018.

In 2019, more than 56% of the workers were in the primary sector, while 29% worked in the secondary sector, and 14% in the tertiary sector. The agricultural sector of the islands is based on the export of spices, the most important being vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves, so they are susceptible to price fluctuations in the commodity market. Comoros is the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang, a plant whose essential oil is used in the perfume industry.

High population densities (1000 inhab./km² in the densest agricultural areas) may lead to an environmental crisis in the near future, especially due to high population growth. In 2004, interannual GDP growth was 1.9%, and per capita GDP decreased. The decrease is due to factors such as a reduction in investment and consumption, and an increase in inflation and in the trade balance, due to the low prices in the commodity market, especially vanilla.

Fiscal policy does not have good indicators. This is because the income is not clear, the salaries of public employees are high and the external debt is very high. Being able to have an economic cooperation agreement with France gives a certain stability to the country, although it is not very useful to contain the high increases in domestic prices.

It has inadequate transportation systems, a young and rapidly growing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to subsistence economic activity, and a heavy dependence on foreign assistance.

The government intends to increase educational and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial entities, to implement health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism and to reduce the high population growth.

Demographics

It has 724,300 inhabitants in 2012, with a population density of 389 inhab/km². For this reason, it is one of the least populated countries in the world, but it has one of the highest population densities. Life expectancy is 63.9 years and 75.1% of the population is literate. In 2001, 34% of the population was urban, but it is believed to be higher today, as there is a loss of rural population in a country with a high population growth rate.

About half of the population is under the age of 15. The main towns are Moroni, Mitsamihuli, Fumbuni, Mutsamudu, Domoni and Fomboni. Between 200,000 and 350,000 Comorians live in France.

Ethnic groups

The Comoran ethnic group that inhabits the main islands (86% of the population) is of Arab and African origin. Minorities include Malagasy and Indians, who are mainly Ismailis. In Moroni there is recent immigration of Chinese origin. Although most of the French left the country after independence in 1975, there is a Creole community, which comes from France, Madagascar and Réunion.

Languages

The most common language is Comorian (shikomori), which is related to Swahili. There are four dialects, one for each island. French, Arabic and Malagasy are also spoken. Both the Arabic alphabet and the Latin alphabet are used, with Arabic being the most widespread. Recently, an official Latin spelling has been developed.

Religion

Mosque of Moroni.

Islam is the dominant religion, since 99% of the population practices it, specifically they are Sunnis. Koranic schools for children reinforce their influence. Comoros is the only Muslim-majority country in southern Africa, and the second southernmost Muslim-majority territory, lying only north of Mayotte. Due to this, the Arab culture is firmly established in the archipelago.

There is a minority of Christians in Comoros, who are Catholics and Protestants. The majority of Malagasy residents are Christians. Catholics are in the majority among expatriates in metropolitan France.

Culture

Traditionally, women in Ndzuani wear red and white patterned garments called shiromani, while in Ngazidja and Mwali they wear leso shawls, which are colorful. Many women add a sandalwood and coral earth paste called msinzano to their faces. Traditional men's clothing consists of a long white shirt known as nkandu, and a hat kofia.

Social Structure

Comorian society has a system of bilateral descent. Belonging to a lineage and the inheritance of immovable assets is done through the mother, which is why it has similarities with the Bantu, while other assets and patronymics are inherited through the father. However, there are differences between different islands, since on the island of Ngazidja there is a greater influence through the mother.

Music

The musical genre twarab, which was imported from Zanzibar in the early XX century, continues to have a major influence on the islands, and is popular at ada weddings.

Sports

Most of the sports played in the Comoros were introduced at the time of French colonization. Soccer is the most popular sport, although basketball is also very present. Other sports that are practiced are athletics, swimming, tennis and cycling.

The Comoros National Soccer Team is controlled by the Comoros Soccer Federation, and affiliated with CAF and FIFA. They have never qualified for the Soccer World Cup, but they recently qualified and played in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where they reached an acceptable round of 16. This historic achievement was a product of the significant progress that Comorian football has made in recent years. Within the Comoros, there is the First Division of the Comoros, which was founded in 1979 and the most winning team is Coin Nord with 7 titles.