Comoros

Union des Comores (French ) الاتحاد القمري al -Ittihad al - Qumurī (Arabic ) Union of the Comoros

• Nominal

• 442 million U.S. $ ( 174 )

The Comoros ( Comorian قمر Komori, French Comores [ kɔmɔ ː ʀ ]; officially since 2001, Union of the Comoros ) form a federal island nation in the Indian Ocean on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and Mozambique. They include three of the four main islands of the Komorenarchipels. These are Grande Comore ( Njazidja ), Anjouan ( Anjouan ), Mohéli ( Mwali ) and several smaller islands. The fourth main island of Mayotte ( Mahoré ) is Overseas Territory of France and is also claimed by the Union.

The Comoros were independent in 1975 of France and has since experienced a checkered history with coups and secession. Your estimated 614,000 residents are of mixed, predominantly East African and Arab descent and mostly Muslims. The country's name is from the Arabic al - Qamar Dschuzur ( جزر القمر ) derived, which means as much as " Lunar Archipelago ".

• 2.1 religions
• 2.2 Education
• 2.3 Health

• 3.1 Prehistory
• 3.2 Islamization
• 3.3 dominance of Arab sultanates
• 3.4 Double Protection Area ( from 1841), then overseas territory (from 1946)
• 3.5 independence (since 1975)

• 6.1 Economic sectors
• 6.2 State Budget

Geography

Natural space

The archipelago of the Comoros rises on an oceanic ridge. All the islands are volcanic in origin and have a mountainous relief. Volcanic mountains with deeply furrowed slopes, plateaus, hills and mostly narrow coastal strip characterize the landscape. The coasts of the islands are mostly rocky and fringed by coral reefs. In the center of the main island of Grande Comore is the 2361 meter-high active volcano Karthala, which has the world's largest craters of all volcanoes. The last major eruption occurred in 1977, in this case a whole village was overrun by lava. In early 2005 there was a minor outbreak, which took place without explosion or Lavaaustritt. Only ash covered after the outbreak of a considerable part of the volcano. End of May 2006 Plated volcano the capital Moroni with a cloud of dust and smoke, which led to local evacuations.

Climate

The tropical -maritime climate has over the year to only small temperature fluctuations. The average temperature of the coldest month (July / August) is 22 ° C, the warmest months ( February / March) at 27 ° C. Between May and October, the dry southeast trade winds from November to April there is the rain -bringing North West monsoon. Wet ester month is January. Depending on the altitude between 1000 and 4000 mm of annual precipitation can be registered. In the hot season draw more tropical cyclones over the islands.

Flora and Fauna

The original vegetation - dense tropical rain forest with valuable timber species - is greatly reduced and obtained almost exclusively in higher elevations. Plantations and savannas dominate the landscape today. In lowlands mainly coconut palms, banana and mango trees are present. The coasts are partly covered by mangroves. The terrestrial fauna is relatively poor in species and shows similarity with that of Madagascar. There are rare bird and turtle species as well as encountered only here Feuchtnasenaffenart, the Mongozmaki. The coastal waters, including coral reefs, however, are rich in a variety of aquatic animals. A special feature is the coelacanth; 1938 was a representative of the captured previously known only as a fossil genus off the Comoros for the first time.

Major Cities

The largest cities are (as of 1 January 2005) Moroni ( 42,872 inhabitants), Mutsamudu ( 23 594 inhabitants), Fomboni ( 14,966 inhabitants), Domoni ( 14,509 inhabitants) and Tsémbehou ( 11,552 inhabitants).

Population

Anjouan is the most densely populated island in the archipelago. 64 % of the population lived in 2004 still in the country. The life expectancy was in the same year in 63 years. Well 42 % of the population are younger than 15 years. The population increase between 1994 and 2004 at 2.8 %. The official languages ​​are Comorian ( related to Swahili), French and Arabic. The Comorians (97 % of the total population) are descended from Arabs, Malagasy, Bantu, Indians and Indo- Melanesians. In addition, a few hundred Europeans living on the islands. The population growth and high unemployment lead to emigration, especially to Mayotte and Madagascar.

The Comoros are among the poorest countries in the world.

Religions

The state religion of the country is Sunni Islam schafiitischen the law school. It consists of about 99 % of the population. In addition, there on the Comoros a small minority of Indian Ismailis ( Shia ) and a Catholic charitable missionary activity. Overall, about 1 % of the population professes Christianity.

Education

After the attainment of independence and the elimination french teacher education of poor teacher training and quality was affected. Since the education reform in 1975, there is a compulsory education from eight years; contained therein is the two-year Islamic school for preschool children. The illiteracy rate is estimated at 50%.

Health

Social welfare and health care have significant gaps. Malnutrition is one of the reasons for the high infant mortality rate (2004: 5.2%). Malaria is widespread. 2004, the country had 15 physicians per 100,000 people. In the same year, the fertility rate was 4.7 children per woman. The female life expectancy is about 67 and the male 62

History

Prehistory

It is not known exactly when and where the earliest inhabitants of the archipelago came; Archaeologists have found on Anjouan traces of a settlement from the 6th century. It is believed that Austronesian immigrants who arrived in AD 1st millennium by sea from Indonesia and landed on Madagascar, settled on the Comoros. In addition Bantu came from East Africa (especially Mozambique).

Islamization

Arabs and Persians also visited the islands; From the 15th century they were increasingly on the four main islands down, introduced Islam, founded Sultanate mainly in the coastal area and pushed the old population in the interior of the islands from. In the 16th century, the Comoros were a regional trade center, the rice, spices, amber and slaves exported to East African and Middle Eastern port cities.

Dominance of Arab sultanates

The first European visitors were Portuguese, who landed in 1505 on Grande Comore. 1527 Comoros appear for the first time on a Portuguese map. However, the Europeans were able to exert a decisive influence long. Founded by the Portuguese, Dutch and French in the 16th century branches were dissolved again soon. Until the mid-19th century, the Arab- Islamic influence remained dominant. The Shirazi sultans tended to acquire more lands that they left farming of native workers, but also often imported from East Africa slaves. 1865 was an estimated 40 % of the population slaves. From the late 18th century led the Sakalava of Madagascar slave raids by the Comoros and Mayotte almost depopulated; these raids ended after the Merina conquered the kingdoms of the Sakalava. Thereafter, groups of Sakalava and Betsimaraka settled on Mayotte and Mohéli.

French reserve (from 1841), then overseas territory (from 1946)

In the first half of the 19th century, the rivalry between France and Britain began around the islands in the western Indian Ocean. In the space of the Comoros, France prevailed that took 1841 Mayotte into his possession; 1886 and the remaining three islands came under French protectorate. 1912 abdicated the last sultan, and the Comoros Islands came under a colonial administration with capital Dzaoudzi on Mayotte. Under colonial rule, slavery was abolished; the economy was focused on the cultivation of vanilla, ylang -ylang and other products, the profits were reinvested it barely in the Comoros.

During the Second World War, the islands, which had declared for the Vichy government of Marshal Philippe Pétain, were temporarily occupied by British troops. 1946 received the now no longer managed by Madagascar from Comoros to the status of a French overseas territory with administrative autonomy. 1956 France guaranteed the right to vote and the transition to full internal autonomy, however, was finally granted only in January 1968 final. In a referendum in 1958, the voters decided by a clear majority to remain with France. The two established political parties in the 1960s - led by the Dr. Said Mohamed Cheikh Parti Vert and the Parti Blanc under Prince Said Ibrahim - were both pro- French, conservative and dominated by the descendants of the sultans.

The independence movement Mouvement de la Libération Nationale des Comores ( Molinaco ) was founded in 1962 by Komorern in Tanzania and started in 1967 to expand their influence on the Comoros itself. The widespread feeling of being neglected by France, combined with the independence of Tanganyika and Zanzibar and nearby incipient struggle for independence in Mozambique, increased especially among younger Komorern the approval for independence. Under the incumbent government since 1972 under Ahmed Abdallah another referendum on independence was held in 1974, in which about 95 % spoke out for independence, however, about 63 % voted in Mayotte to remain with France.

Independence (since 1975)

On July 6, 1975 unilaterally declared the independence of the Comoros. On the following August 3 crashed a coalition of six parties Abdallah; who was behind the coup, and in particular how France played a role is unknown. A new government led by Ali Soilih took power.

Paris in 1975 went to Bob Denard approach to replace the President of the Comoros Ahmed Abdallah by Ali Soilih. Denard came with only about ten mercenaries on the Comoros, where joined by supporters of Soilih. There was only a brief shootout, Abdallah was sent into exile in Paris and the Comoros had a new president Ali Solih.

Political system

Under the Constitution of 2001, the Comoros is a federal republic and Islam is the state religion. Heads of state and head of government is the directly elected for four years President, each time may only vote the population of a single island on a rotating basis. In the presidential election of 2006, only candidates were allowed to take the island of Anjouan, Grande Comore after 2002 had asked the President. The winner showed the moderate Islamist Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi on May 14. Said in the Comoros for his theological studies in Iran and " Ayatollah " Sunni businessman sat down with 58 % of the vote through against the former President Ibrahim Halidi supported ( 28%). After his election Sambi vehemently denied wanting to transform the Comoros in an Islamic state.

Legislative power lies with the Union Assembly with 33 members, of whom 18 are elected every five years, while the remaining 15 seats deputies of the regional parliaments are reserved. Since 1990, a multi-party system. In the elections of 2004, the Camp of the Autonomous Islands ( CDIA ) went with 12 seats in front of the Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) with 6 seats as the winner. 2009 won the CDIA the elections again. All residents aged 18 years and older have the right to vote. Highest judicial body is the Supreme Court, which is charged in equal parts of all the islands. The Comoros are a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Community of Sahel - Saharan States (CEN -SAD ).

Administrative divisions

The Comoros are a federal republic with three constituent states, the three autonomous islands, each corresponding to the three main islands along with the smaller islands.

The autonomous islands are divided further into 16 prefectures since 2011 and 54 municipalities ( communes).

Economy and infrastructure

The economically underdeveloped island country is heavily dependent on foreign assistance. The main source for financing the national budget budget support from France.

Economic sectors

Agriculture, including fishing, hunting and forestry formed in 2001 for 73 % of the population 's livelihood and introduced in 2004 with 41% the largest share of GDP. Small self-catering establishments mainly grow cassava, maize, yams, sweet potatoes, bananas and rice. On plantations, which usually are in the hands of French interests, grow vanilla, cloves, pepper, cocoa, sisal and coconut trees. Moreover, the Comoros are a major producer of ylang- ylang oil.

Main energy sources for the population are firewood and agricultural waste. The commercial energy production is based mainly on imported oil. The industry is poorly developed; small farms supplying the domestic market, some processed agricultural products for export. Main exports in 2003 were vanilla (78%), cloves ( 13%) and Ylang-Ylang (6% ), of which 39% in 2000 to France, 20% in the United States and 7% went to Germany. Were imported to 20% petroleum products, 18% food, 13% of vehicles and 5% cement, namely 37% in France to 14% in Pakistan, 11% in Kenya and 9% from South Africa.

The entire road network comprises about 900 km, of which about 500 km fixed. Grande Comore and Anjouan have annular coastal roads. There are sea and air connections between the islands. The main port is Mutsamudu on Anjouan. On Grande Comore, there is an international airport. The previously insignificant tourism is promoted with French and South African support. Most of the guests are from France. The level of education is low and so favors the subsistence economy, a high unemployment rate of about 20 % in (1996 ) is the result.

State budget

The state budget included in the 2002 editions of the equivalent of 33.95 million U.S. dollars, partially offset by revenue equivalent to 27.9 million U.S. dollars. This results in a budget deficit of 2.4% of GDP.

In 2006, the share of government expenditure (% of GDP ) the following areas:

• Health: 3.2%
• Education: 3.8% (2002)
• Military: 2.8%

Sports

The most popular sport in the Comoros is football. The association was admitted to FIFA on 12 September 2005 along with East Timor. 1979 was the national team of their first friendly match, which went against lost Reunion with 1:6. The first official game, so after admission to FIFA, was a match against Yemen in 2006, which was lost with 0:2. The first win was in 1990, again in a game against Reunion, 1-0.