World Country Guide

General Information

Area
1862 sq km (719 sq miles).

Population
747,000 (UN estimate 2002).

Population Density
401.2 per sq km.

Capital
Moroni. Population: 60,200 (2003).

Geography
The Comoro archipelago is situated in the Indian Ocean north of Madagascar and consists of four main islands of volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs: Ngazidja (formerly Grande Comore), Nzwani (formerly Anjouan), Mwali (formerly Mohli) and Mayotte. The latter is administered by France but is claimed by the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros. Land can only support subsistence agriculture but the surrounding seas are rich in marine life.

Government
Federal Islamic Republic. Head of State: President Assoumani Azali, since the military coup of April 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Hamada Madi ‘Bolro’ since 2001. Parliament has been dissolved.

Language
The official languages are French, Arabic and Comorian, a blend of Arabic and Swahili.

Religion
Muslim (mostly Sunni) with Roman Catholic minority.

Time
GMT + 3.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
Outgoing international calls must be made through the international operator. Country code: 269.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network Societe Nationale des Postes et Telecommunications (HURI) (website: www.snpt.km) provides limited coverage.

Internet
Main ISP is ComNet (website: www.snpt.km). A few hotels have Internet access.

Post
Mail to Western Europe takes at least one week.

Press
There are no English-language newspapers. The main (weekly) papers are Al Watwan (state-owned) and La Gazette des Comores (independent). L’Archipel (independent) is published monthly.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.