Simple directory > Regional > Comoros

Country : Comoros Official name: Udzima wa Komori (L'Union des Comores) (The Union of the Comoros) (from Jan 2002) Head of State: Federal President Azali Assoumani (from 26 May 2002) Head of government: Federal President Azali Assoumani Ruling party: The first federal government was sworn in on 14 Jul 2004. Area: 2,171 square km Population: 766,000 (2004) Capital: Moroni Official language: Arabic and French Currency: Comoros franc (Cf) = 100 centimes Exchange rate: Cf380.41 per US$ (Nov 2004) (pegged Cf491.97 per euro) GDP per capita: US$417 (2003) GDP real growth: 2.10% (2003) Labour force: 144,500 (2003) Unemployment: 20.00% (2003) Inflation: 4.50% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$23.50 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$232.00 million (2003) 3)

Historical profile

1843 The Comoros was ceded to France by Portugal.

1947 Formerly attached to Madagascar, the Comoros became a separate French Overseas Territory.

1961 It achieved internal self government.

1972 Elections produced a large majority for parties advocating independence and Ahmed Abdallah became president of the government council.

1973 Abdallah was restyled president of the government.

1975 The Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros gained independence from France, except for Mayotte, which was the only island in the archipelago that voted to retain its link with France.

1978 A constitution was approved in a referendum.

1982 Constitutional amendments increased the president's power by reducing that of each island's governor.

1985 The constitution was amended to abolish the position of prime minister.

1989 A constitutional amendment permitting President Abdallah to remain in office for a third six-year term was approved in a referendum. Abdallah was assassinated by members of his own presidential guard. Said Djohar was appointed interim head of state.

1990 Djohar was elected president.

1992 A new constitution was approved.

1995 A coup toppled President Said Djohar and his government. Caabi el Yachroutou Mohammed declared himself interim president and prime minister. He appointed a government of national unity.

1996 Mohammed Taki Abdoul-Karim won the presidential election. Tajidine ben Said Massonde resigned as prime minister and the president appointed Ahmed Abdou.

1997 The island of Anjouan (Ndzuani) set up its own administration and declared independence from the Comoros, expressing sentiments for reintegration with France due to a collapse in living standards since independence. The Moroni government led an unsuccessful invasion of the island.

1998 President Mohammed Taki Abdoul-Karim died. The interim president, Tajidine ben Said Massonde, from Anjouan, failed to organise new presidential elections.

1999 The Comoran armed forces chief of staff, Colonel Azali Assoumani, seized power in a bloodless coup. He was sworn in as president. In legislative elections on Anjouan, the hardline secessionists won every seat.

2000 Negotiations between Anjouan and the Comoran government led to the signing of an accord, which aimed to create a loose federation. This was rejected by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which brokered the discussions. The Anjouan parliament was dissolved by the local military ruler and replaced by an unelected legislative council. Hamada Madi Bolero was appointed prime minister of Comoros.

2001 A national reconciliation agreement, known as the Fomboni agreement, was signed between the Comoros government and the secessionist island of Anjouan. Soldiers ousted Lieutenant Colonel Said Abeid Abderemane, the leader of the junta in power on Anjouan since 1999. In a referendum on the Comoros draft constitution, 77 per cent voted for removing the federal structure of government and replacing it with a decentralised Comoran Union of three autonomous islands: Anjouan, Mohéli and Grand Comoros.

2002 The country's name was changed to L'Union des Comores (The Union of the Comoros). Colonel Azali Assoumani was elected president of The Union, but the electoral commission declared the poll invalid. The two opposition candidates and most voters of Anjouan, boycotted the vote. On 26 May, Azali Assoumani was declared president of The Union.

In Mohéli, Mohamed Said Fazul was elected president. Mohamed Bacar was elected president of Anjouan.

Abdou Soule Elbak won the run-off presidential elections on Grande Comore.

2003 In an attempt to solve the constitutional crisis in The Union of the Comoros, the African Union (AU) urged the government to hold parliamentary elections and to establish a constitutional court.

2004 In April, parliamentary elections were held and the first federal government was sworn in on 14 July, in which the opposition parties hold 27 seats against six seats for the President's party.

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