Comoros

Comoros, officially the Union of the Comoros, is an archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, about 300 kilometers west of Mozambique and northeast of Madagascar. It comprises three main islands — Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), and Mohéli (Mwali). The capital and largest city is Moroni, located on Grande Comore.

The islands were settled by Bantu-speaking peoples and later influenced by Arab and Malagasy traders. Comoros gained independence from France on July 6, 1975. Since then it has experienced political instability, including coups and secessionist tensions, most notably on Anjouan in the late 1990s. A 2001 constitution created a Union with rotating presidency among the islands.

The Union operates a semi-presidential system with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The presidency rotates among the islands, and legislative bodies include an Assembly of the Union and island-level administrations.

Population is around one million. The population is predominantly Muslim (Sunni). Official languages are Comorian (Shikomor), French, and Arabic. The economy is small and agriculture-based, with vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang oil, fishing, and remittances playing major roles. The Comorian franc (KMF) is the currency.

Society reflects African, Arab, and Malagasy influences. Cultural life features music, crafts, and markets. The environment includes coral reefs, mangroves, and volcanic soil; the climate is tropical with a risk of cyclones. Development challenges include poverty and limited infrastructure.