Comoros

The Comoros, officially the Union of the Comoros, is an archipelagic country made up of three islands in Southeastern Africa, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city is Moroni. The religion of the majority of the population—and the official state religion—is Islam. Comoros proclaimed its independence from France on 6 July 1975.

The Comoros is the only country of the Arab League which is entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a member state of the African Union, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, and the Indian Ocean Commission. The country has three official languages: Comorian, French and Arabic.

At 1,659 square kilometres (641 sq mi), the Comoros is the third-smallest African country by area after São Tomé and Príncipe and Seychelles. In 2019, its population was estimated to be 850,886. The sovereign state consists of three major islands and numerous smaller islands, all of the volcanic Comoro Islands with the exception of Mayotte. Mayotte voted against independence from France in a referendum in 1974, and continues to be administered by France as an overseas department.

Etymology

The name "Comoros" comes from an Arabic phrase meaning "Islands of the Moon." A judge named Alfred Gevrey, who worked on the island of Mayotte, thought that the word might have referred to a southern area where sailors saw bright stars in the sky.

History

Main article: History of the Comoros

Settlement

According to stories, a magical being dropped a shining gem that created a big fire and formed the Karthala volcano, making the island of Ngazidja (Grande Comore). Legends also say King Solomon visited the island with his queen, Bilqis.

The first people known to live on the Comoro Islands were travelers from islands in Southeast Asia who arrived no later than the eighth century AD. After them, more settlers came from Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and Madagascar. Many of these early settlers spoke Bantu languages.

Medieval Comoros and European contact

Stories say that in 632, a person named Mtswa-Mwindza traveled to Mecca to learn about Islam after hearing of it, but the leader Muhammad had passed away by the time he arrived. After returning home, Mtswa-Mwindza built a mosque and helped people on the islands learn about Islam.

Later, sailors from Oman called the Comoros the Perfume Islands. Traders from many places visited the islands, bringing goods like coral, ambergris, ivory, tortoiseshell, gold, and slaves. They also shared Islam with the local people.

In the late 1400s, sailors from Portugal arrived in the Indian Ocean and began visiting the islands. For many years, the islands provided food for Portuguese ships. Some Portuguese traders settled there and married local women.

French colonisation

In the late 1700s, warriors from nearby Madagascar began attacking the Comoros, destroying crops and taking people away. By the early 1800s, only one person remained on Mwali. The islands were repopulated by people brought from Africa.

France began ruling part of the Comoros in 1841 when they took control of Mayotte. Over time, France took control of all the islands. By 1912, all four islands were governed as one group under French rule.

Independence to present

After many years of changes in leadership, the Comoros became independent from France in 1975. Since then, the country has faced many changes in government and challenges with leadership. Leaders have often taken power through force, and there have been many struggles between different island groups.

In recent years, the Comoros has worked to create a more shared government among its islands. The country joined international agreements to keep its land free from nuclear weapons and has taken part in important global meetings.

Geography

Main article: Geography of the Comoros

The Comoros is made up of three main islands: Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli), and Ndzwani (Anjouan), along with many smaller islets. These islands are located in the Indian Ocean, in the Mozambique Channel, between the African coast and Madagascar. The capital city, Moroni, is on Ngazidja.

The Comoros is a small country, covering just 1,659 km². The islands have different landscapes, ranging from steep mountains to gentle hills. Each island has its own unique features, such as volcanoes and special shapes.

Main article: Climate of the Comoros

The climate in the Comoros is warm and tropical. The hottest time of year is around March, with temperatures averaging between 29–30 °C. There are two main seasons: a rainy season from November to April, and a cooler, drier season from May to October. The islands are not often hit by strong storms called cyclones.

The Comoros has its own unique plants and animals. In 1952, a special fish called the West Indian Ocean coelacanth was found near the islands. This fish was thought to have disappeared millions of years ago.

There are six national parks in the Comoros that help protect the islands' natural beauty, including forests and ocean areas.

Ngazidja is the largest island, with rocky soil and two volcanoes: Karthala, which is active, and La Grille, which is dormant. Mwali, the smallest island, has its capital at Fomboni. Ndzwani has a triangular shape due to three mountain chains coming from a central peak, Mount Ntingui.

The islands were formed by volcanic activity. Mount Karthala, on Ngazidja, is the highest point in the Comoros at 2,361 metres. It is an active volcano and one of the most active in the world.

The Comoros also claims some distant islands called the Îles Éparses or Îles éparses de l'océan indien, including the Glorioso Islands. These islands were once part of the Comoros but are now administered by France.

Government

Main article: Politics of the Comoros

See also: List of rulers of Comoros

The Comoros is a federal presidential republic where the President serves as both head of state and government. The country's politics operate under a multi-party system. The Constitution was approved in 2001 and includes principles of Islamic governance, human rights, and democracy.

Each of the three islands has its own government with a president and parliament, while the Union has its own presidency and Assembly. Up until 2018, the presidency rotated among the islands. The legal system combines Islamic law, French law, and local customs. The Supreme Court handles constitutional questions and acts as a high court.

The Comoros joined the United Nations in 1975 and is part of several international groups. It has a small military and police force, with France helping to protect its waters and train its soldiers. The country has focused on building its security policies in recent years.

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Comoros

The Comoros faces high poverty levels, but things have been getting better. Many people there live on very little, though not as many as in some nearby countries. Between 2014 and 2018, poverty went down a bit, and life for many improved. However, there are big differences between people living in the country and those in cities.

Most people in the Comoros work in farming, especially growing spices like vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves. These spices are important because they are sold around the world, but their value can change a lot. The Comoros is also the biggest place where a plant called ylang-ylang is grown, which is used to make perfume.

The country has many challenges, such as a growing population and not many natural resources. The government is working to improve education, health, and tourism to help people live better. In 2024, the Comoros joined a group of countries called the World Trade Organization to help with its economy.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the Comoros

The Comoros is a small country with about 850,000 people. It is one of the least crowded countries in the world, but many people live close together. Most of the people live in towns now, and the country still grows quickly. Many young people live there, with almost half of the population under age 15.

Major towns include Moroni, Mitsamihuli, Foumbouni, Mutsamadu, Domoni, and Fomboni. Some people from the Comoros live in other places, like France.

The people of the Comoros come from different backgrounds, mostly a mix of groups from Africa and Arab countries. Some smaller groups include people from Makua and India. There are also some recent visitors from China.

The main languages spoken are called Shikomori, which are related to Swahili. People also use Arabic and French in schools and government.

Most people in the Comoros follow Sunni Islam, which is the official religion. A smaller number of people follow Christianity.

Education

Further information: Education in the Comoros

Most children in Comoros go to religious schools where they learn about the Qur'an and memorize it. Many families also send their children to regular schools that use the French and English languages. Even though the government schools face challenges like missing resources and delayed teacher pay, there are many private and community schools that offer good quality education. The school system in Comoros is mostly based on the French style, as many students hope to study further in France, Spain, and Italy. Recently, there have been efforts to make the school curriculum more local and connect it with religious education.

Before colonisation, education in Comoros focused on skills like farming, caring for animals, and household work, along with learning about Islam. During the early 1900s, colonisation brought in a new school system based on the French model, mostly for wealthy families. After Comoros became independent in 1975, the school system changed again. Funding for teachers was lost, causing problems, and public schools did not work well from 1997 to 2001. Since then, more people have had access to education, and enrollment has grown.

In the year 2000, about 44% of children aged 5 to 14 were attending school. There is often a shortage of school supplies, equipment, qualified teachers, and books. Teacher salaries are sometimes paid very late, which makes many teachers unwilling to work.

Before the year 2000, students who wanted to go to university had to study in other countries, mainly in Europe and the Americas, such as France and the United Kingdom. But in the early 2000s, a university was opened in Comoros. This helped the country’s economy and encouraged educated people to return and work there.

The Comorian language does not have its own writing system, so both the Arabic and Latin alphabets are used. By 2004, around 57% of people could read and write using the Latin alphabet, while over 90% could do so using the Arabic alphabet.

Culture

See also: Public holidays in the Comoros

In Comoros, people have special ways of dressing. On the island of Ndzwani, women often wear red and white patterned clothes called shiromani. On Ngazidja and Mwali, women wear colorful shawls called leso. Many women also put a special paste made from sandalwood and coral on their faces, called msindzano. Men traditionally wear a long white shirt called a nkandu and a hat called a kofia.

Marriages in Comoros come in two types. The first type, called the little marriage or Mna daho, is a small and simple ceremony. The second type is the grand marriage or ada, which is a big celebration lasting two weeks. It includes wearing shiny gold jewelry and costs a lot of money. This grand marriage is very important for families and often takes many years to save up for.

Further information: Music of the Comoros

The music of Comoros is influenced by styles from Zanzibar. A popular type of music called Twarab is often played at grand marriages.

Further information: Mass media in the Comoros

Comoros has two main newspapers, Al-Watwan and La Gazette des Comores, published in the capital city, Moroni. There are also radio and television services run by the government and some smaller stations on the islands.