Comoros

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Country in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the east coast of Africa, comprising three islands – Njazidja (Grande Comore), Nzwani (Anjouan), and Mwali (Moheli). A fourth island in the group, Mayotte, is a French dependency. Together the islands are known as the Comoros Islands.

Government
The 1992 constitution provides for a president, elected by universal adult suffrage for a five-year term, renewable only once, and an appointed council of ministers. There is a two-chamber legislature: a 42-member federal assembly, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term, and a 15-member senate, selected by an electoral college for a six-year term. The president appoints a prime minister, as head of government, from the majority party in the assembly.

Each of the four main islands has a high degree of autonomy, with its own elected governor and council for all matters not specifically assigned to the federal government.

History
Originally inhabited by Asians, Africans, and Indonesians, the Comoros islands were controlled by Muslim sultans until the French acquired them 1841–1909. The islands became a French colony in 1912 and were attached to Madagascar 1914–47, when they were made a French overseas territory. Internal self-government was attained in 1961, but full independence was not achieved until 1975 because of Mayotte's reluctance to sever links with France. Although the Comoros joined the United Nations in 1975, with Ahmed Abdallah as president, Mayotte remained under French administration. Relations with France deteriorated as Ali Soilih, who had overthrown Abdallah, became more powerful as president under a new constitution. In 1978 he was killed by French mercenaries working for Abdallah. Abdallah's use of mercenaries in his return to power led to the Comoros' expulsion from the Organization of African Unity (OAU; later African Union).

One-party state
A federal Islamic republic was proclaimed, a new constitution adopted, and Abdallah reconfirmed as president in an election where he was the only candidate. Diplomatic relations with France were restored. In 1979 the Comoros became a one-party state, and government powers were increased. In the same year a plot to overthrow Abdallah was foiled. In 1984 he was re-elected president, and in the following year the constitution was amended, abolishing the post of prime minister and making Abdallah head of government as well as head of state.

In November 1989, Abdallah was assassinated during an attack on the presidential palace led by a French mercenary, Col Bob Denard, who had also been behind the coups of 1975 and 1978. Denard was subsequently arrested by French army units and returned to France. A provisional military administration was set up, with Said Muhammad Djohar as interim president. Attempted antigovernment coups were foiled in 1990 and 1992. A general election in November 1992 proved inconclusive but in a further election in December 1993 Djohar's supporters won an overall majority. In October 1995 Djohar was briefly overthrown in a coup, again led by French mercenary Col Bob Denard. After six days Djohar was restored to power by French troops and Denard was sent to France to face trial. In November 1995, while Djohar was absent from the country, the acting prime minister, Caabi el Yachroutu Muhammad, declared himself interim president and appointed a ‘government of national unity’. Djohar disputed Yachroutu's action and appointed a rival government under Said Ali Muhammad. Djohar was exiled but was allowed to return in January 1996 in a non-political capacity.

In March 1996 Muhammad Taki Abdoulkarim (1936–98) was elected president and in May Tajiddine Ben Said Massonde was appointed prime minister. Assembly elections in December 1996 were boycotted by the opposition parties and President Abdoulkarim's new party, the National Rally for Development (RND) was successful on a 20% turnout. Ahmed Abdou was appointed prime minister.

In 1997 president Taki, whose government had lost control of two of the Comoros federation's three islands, ignored appeals from France and the Organization of African Unity to refrain from military intervention. Nzwani, the second largest of the three-island group, seceded in August, with Foundi Abdallah Ibrahim as leader and self-declared president, after months of protest, civil unrest, and clashes with security forces. The smallest of the islands, Mwali, followed suit, leaving Taki's government in control of only Njazidja. Comoran government troops launched an assault in September 1997 on the breakaway island of Nzwani, battling with secessionist defenders. The situation, however, remained unresolved.

After Takis's death in November 1998 the Comoros presidency was claimed by Tajiddine Ben Said Massounde from Nzwani. In mid-December 1998 militia regained control of the capital of the island of Nzwani.

In May 1999, Massounde was deposed in an army coup led by Colonel Azali Hassoumani. A coup perpetrated to depose the military government in March 2000 was foiled. In November Hamada Madi was appointed prime minister.

In February 2001, an OAU-brokered national reconciliation agreement was signed by the government and the secessionist islands of Nzwani and Mwali. It provided for substantial autonomy, while leaving currency, defence, and foreign affairs in the hands of the Comoros national government. A new constitution was to be in place by December, and a transitional government formed. In August a military junta seized power on the secessionist island of Nzwani, with Commander Mohamed Bacar declaring himself head of state. In September, Bacar was briefly overthrown after a further attempted coup, but it was quashed a day later.

In January 2002, President Assoumani resigned and a transitional government was formed, with Hamada Madi as acting president and prime minister, pending fresh elections. In the first presidential elections on the autonomous islands of Nzwani and Mwali, Mohamed Bacar was elected president of Nzwani with 70% of the vote and a run-off election a month later resulted in the election of Mohamed Said Fazul as president of Mwali. In April, the presidential election for the Union of Comoros was marred by violence. It was held on Njazidja, as the island was granted the first turn of the rotating presidency of the union under the December 2001 constitution. Assoumani won more than 80% of the vote, but the electoral commission cancelled the results as the two opposition candidates and the voters on Nzwani boycotted the vote.

The presidential election of May 2006 were won by the Muslim cleric Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform.

Red stands for sovereignty. White represents purity. Green recalls the coastal inhabitants and is a symbol of hope. Effective date: 14 October 1958. >>