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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
Comoros
    n 1: a country on the Comoro Islands [syn: Comoros, Federal
         Islamic Republic of the Comoros]

2. CIA World Factbook 2002
Comoros

   Introduction Comoros
   --------------------
                            Background: Unstable Comoros has endured 19
                                        coups or attempted coups since
                                        gaining independence from France in
                                        1975. In 1997, the islands of
                                        Anjouan and Moheli declared their
                                        independence from Comoros. In 1999,
                                        military chief Col. AZALI seized
                                        power. He has pledged to resolve the
                                        secessionist crisis through a
                                        confederal arrangement named the
                                        2000 Fomboni Accord. In December
                                        2001, voters approved a new
                                        constitution and presidential
                                        elections took place in the spring
                                        of 2002.
  
   Geography Comoros
   -----------------
                              Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in
                                        the Mozambique Channel, about two-
                                        thirds of the way between northern
                                        Madagascar and northern Mozambique
                Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E
                        Map references: Africa
                                  Area: total: 2,170 sq km
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 2,170 sq km
                    Area - comparative: slightly more than 12 times the size
                                        of Washington, DC
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 340 km
                       Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: tropical marine; rainy season
                                        (November to May)
                               Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary
                                        from steep mountains to low hills
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
                                        highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
                     Natural resources: NEGL
                              Land use: arable land: 34.98%
                                        permanent crops: 17.94%
                                        other: 47.09% (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: NA sq km
                       Natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy
                                        season (December to April); Le
                                        Kartala on Grand Comore is an active
                                        volcano
          Environment - current issues: soil degradation and erosion results
                                        from crop cultivation on slopes
                                        without proper terracing;
                                        deforestation
            Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
                            agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
                                        Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
                                        the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
                                        Ship Pollution, Wetlands
                                        signed, but not ratified: none of
                                        the selected agreements
                      Geography - note: important location at northern end
                                        of Mozambique Channel
  
   People Comoros
   --------------
                            Population: 614,382 (July 2002 est.)
                         Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.9% (male 132,013;
                                        female 131,282)
                                        15-64 years: 54.2% (male 164,245;
                                        female 168,793)
                                        65 years and over: 2.9% (male 8,588;
                                        female 9,461) (2002 est.)
                Population growth rate: 2.99% (2002 est.)
                            Birth rate: 39.01 births/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                            Death rate: 9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                    Net migration rate: NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population
                                        (2002 est.)
                             Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
                                        under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
                                        15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
                                        65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/
                                        female
                                        total population: 0.99 male(s)/
                                        female (2002 est.)
                 Infant mortality rate: 81.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
                                        est.)
              Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.79 years
                                        female: 63.09 years (2002 est.)
                                        male: 58.56 years
                  Total fertility rate: 5.26 children born/woman (2002 est.)
      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.12% (1999 est.)
     HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
                                  AIDS:
                     HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
                           Nationality: noun: Comoran(s)
                                        adjective: Comoran
                         Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha,
                                        Sakalava
                             Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
                             Languages: Arabic (official), French
                                        (official), Shikomoro (a blend of
                                        Swahili and Arabic)
                              Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
                                        and write
                                        total population: 57.3%
                                        male: 64.2%
                                        female: 50.4% (1995 est.)
  
   Government Comoros
   ------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: Federal
                                        Islamic Republic of the Comoros
                                        conventional short form: Comoros
                                        local short form: Comores
                                        local long form: Republique Federale
                                        Islamique des Comores
                       Government type: independent republic
                               Capital: Moroni
              Administrative divisions: 3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja),
                                        Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli
                                        (Mwali); note - there are also four
                                        municipalities named Domoni,
                                        Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
                          Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
                      National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
                          Constitution: 23 December 2001
                                        note: a Transitional National Unity
                                        Government (GUNT) was formed on 20
                                        January 2002 following the passing
                                        of the new constitution; the GUNT
                                        governed until the presidential
                                        elections on 14 April 2002
                          Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new
                                        consolidated code
                              Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
                      Executive branch: chief of state: President AZALI
                                        Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note
                                        - AZALI Assoumani became president
                                        on 6 May 1999 after a bloodless coup
                                        on 30 April 1999; on 16 January
                                        2002, President AZALI resigned his
                                        position to run in the 14 April 2002
                                        presidential elections; during that
                                        time, Prime Minister Hamada Madi
                                        BOLERO served as interim president
                                        election results: President AZALI
                                        Assoumani elected president with 75%
                                        of the vote
                                        elections: president elected by
                                        popular vote for a five-year term;
                                        election last held 14 April 2002
                                        (next to be held NA April 2007);
                                        prime minister appointed by the
                                        president
                                        head of government: Prime Minister
                                        Hamada Madi BOLERO (since NA
                                        November 2000); note - on 16 January
                                        2002, President AZALI resigned his
                                        position to run in the 14 April 2002
                                        presidential elections; Prime
                                        Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was
                                        appointed interim president and
                                        Djaffar SALIM interim deputy prime
                                        minister
                                        cabinet: Council of Ministers
                                        appointed by the president
                    Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of
                                        the Senate (15 seats - five from
                                        each island); members selected by
                                        regional councils for six-year
                                        terms) and a Federal Assembly or
                                        Assemblee Federale (42 seats;
                                        members elected by popular vote to
                                        serve five-year terms); note - the
                                        Federal Assembly was dissolved
                                        following the coup of 30 April 1999
                                        elections: Federal Assembly - last
                                        held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to
                                        be held NA)
                                        note: the constitution stipulates
                                        that only parties that win six seats
                                        in the Federal Assembly (two from
                                        each island) are permitted to be in
                                        the opposition, but if no party
                                        accomplishes that, the second most
                                        successful party will be in the
                                        opposition; in the elections of
                                        December 1996 the FNJ appeared to
                                        qualify as opposition
                                        election results: Federal Assembly -
                                        percent of vote by party - NA%;
                                        seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3,
                                        independent 1
                       Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two
                                        members appointed by the president,
                                        two members elected by the Federal
                                        Assembly, one elected by the Council
                                        of each island, and others are
                                        former presidents of the republic)
         Political parties and leaders: Front National pour la Justice or
                                        FNJ (Islamic party in opposition)
                                        [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed
                                        ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA];
                                        Rassemblement National pour le
                                        Development or RND (party of the
                                        government) [Ali Bazi SELIM]
          Political pressure groups and NA
                               leaders:
             International organization ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC,
                         participation: ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
                                        ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
                                        (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC,
                                        Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber),
                                        ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW
                                        (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
                                        UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
                                        (applicant)
   Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-
                                        designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador
                                        to the US and Canada and permanent
                                        representative to the UN)
                                        telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 and
                                        223-2711
                                        FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699
  
                                        chancery: (temporary) care of the
                                        Permanent Mission of the Federal and
                                        Islamic Republic of the Comoros to
                                        the United Nations, 420 East 50th
                                        Street, New York, NY 10022
     Diplomatic representation from the the US does not have an embassy in
                                    US: Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius
                                        is accredited to Comoros
                      Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of
                                        yellow (top), white, red, and blue
                                        with a green isosceles triangle
                                        based on the hoist; centered within
                                        the triangle is a white crescent
                                        with the convex side facing the
                                        hoist and four white, five-pointed
                                        stars placed vertically in a line
                                        between the points of the crescent;
                                        the horizontal bands and the four
                                        stars represent the four main
                                        islands of the archipelago - Mwali,
                                        Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a
                                        territorial collectivity of France,
                                        but claimed by Comoros); the
                                        crescent, stars, and color green are
                                        traditional symbols of Islam
  
   Economy Comoros
   ---------------
                    Economy - overview: One of the world's poorest
                                        countries, Comoros is made up of
                                        three islands that have inadequate
                                        transportation links, a young and
                                        rapidly increasing population, and
                                        few natural resources. The low
                                        educational level of the labor force
                                        contributes to a subsistence level
                                        of economic activity, high
                                        unemployment, and a heavy dependence
                                        on foreign grants and technical
                                        assistance. Agriculture, including
                                        fishing, hunting, and forestry,
                                        contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80%
                                        of the labor force, and provides
                                        most of the exports. The country is
                                        not self-sufficient in food
                                        production; rice, the main staple,
                                        accounts for the bulk of imports.
                                        The government is struggling to
                                        upgrade education and technical
                                        training, to privatize commercial
                                        and industrial enterprises, to
                                        improve health services, to
                                        diversify exports, to promote
                                        tourism, and to reduce the high
                                        population growth rate. Increased
                                        foreign support is essential if the
                                        goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to
                                        be met. Remittances from 150,000
                                        Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.
                                   GDP: purchasing power parity - $424
                                        million (2001 est.)
                GDP - real growth rate: 1% (2001 est.)
                      GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $710 (2001
                                        est.)
           GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40%
                                        industry: 4%
                                        services: 56% (2001 est.)
         Population below poverty line: 60% (2001 est.)
     Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
                      percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2001 est.)
                           Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.)
           Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%
                     Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
                                Budget: revenues: $27.6 million
                                        expenditures: $NA, including capital
                                        expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
                            Industries: tourism, perfume distillation
     Industrial production growth rate: -2% (1999 est.)
              Electricity - production: 19 million kWh (2000)
    Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.47%
                                        hydro: 10.53%
                                        other: 0% (2000)
                                        nuclear: 0%
             Electricity - consumption: 17.67 million kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
                Agriculture - products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences,
                                        copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava
                                        (tapioca)
                               Exports: $35.3 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
                 Exports - commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves,
                                        perfume oil, copra
                    Exports - partners: France 46%, US 18%, Singapore 18%,
                                        Germany 9% (1999)
                               Imports: $44.9 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
                 Imports - commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer
                                        goods; petroleum products, cement,
                                        transport equipment
                    Imports - partners: France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya
                                        7%, Pakistan 4% (1999)
                       Debt - external: $225 million (yearend 2000 est.)
              Economic aid - recipient: $10 million (2001 est.)
                              Currency: Comoran franc (KMF)
                         Currency code: KMF
                        Exchange rates: Comoran francs per US dollar -
                                        557.09 (January 2002), 549.78
                                        (2001), 533.98 (2000), 461.77
                                        (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997)
  
                                        note: prior to January 1999, the
                                        official rate was pegged to the
                                        French franc at 75 Comoran francs
                                        per French franc; since 1 January
                                        1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to
                                        the euro at a rate of 491.9677
                                        Comoran francs per euro
                           Fiscal year: calendar year
  
   Communications Comoros
   ----------------------
        Telephones - main lines in use: 7,000 (2000)
          Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
                      Telephone system: general assessment: sparse system of
                                        microwave radio relay and HF
                                        radiotelephone communication
                                        stations
                                        domestic: HF radiotelephone
                                        communications and microwave radio
                                        relay
                                        international: HF radiotelephone
                                        communications to Madagascar and
                                        Reunion
              Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
                                Radios: 90,000 (1997)
         Television broadcast stations: NA
                           Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
                 Internet country code: .km
     Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
                        Internet users: 1,500 (2001)
  
   Transportation Comoros
   ----------------------
                                Railways: 0 km
                                Highways: total: 880 km
                                          paved: 673 km
                                          unpaved: 207 km (1996)
                               Waterways: none
                       Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
                         Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
                                          totaling 139,779 GRT/205,369 DWT
                                          ships by type: cargo 6
                                          note: includes some foreign-owned
                                          ships registered here as a flag of
                                          convenience: Malta 1, Pakistan 1,
                                          Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
                                Airports: 4 (2001)
           Airports - with paved runways: total: 4
                                          2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
                                          914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2001)
  
   Military Comoros
   ----------------
                     Military branches: Comoran Security Force
      Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 145,509 (2002 est.)
   Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 86,455 (2002 est.)
                               service:
         Military expenditures - dollar $6 million (FY01)
                                figure:
     Military expenditures - percent of 3% (FY01)
                                   GDP:
  
   Transnational Issues Comoros
   ----------------------------
               Disputes - international: claims French-administered Mayotte;
                                         the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has
                                         moved to secede from Comoros again
                                         after recent military coup
  
                                       



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