Comoros

National Name: Union des Comores

Government
Emerging republic

Geography
The Comoros Islands—Grande Comoro (Ngazidja), Anjouan, Mohéli, and Mayotte (which is not part of the country and retains ties to France)—constitute an archipelago of volcanic origin in the Indian Ocean, 190 mi off the coast of Mozambique.

 Historical Background
Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May 2002. The AU called for new elections in October and froze the assets of Bacar and other government officials. In March 2008, troops from the African Union and the Comoran army invaded Anjouan and deposed Bacar.

Capital

Moroni

Government

Federal republic

President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Samb

Language

Comorian, Arabic, French

Area

Total 2,235 km2 (178th (incl. Mayotte)) 863 sq mi

Population

2010 estimate 691,000 (163th)

Density

275/km2 (25th) 712.2/sq mi

Currency

Comorian franc (KMF)