Comoros
The Comoros (/ˈkɒməroʊz/ (About this soundlisten); Arabic:
جزر القمر, Juzur al-Qumur / Qamar), officially the Union of
the Comoros (Comorian: Udzima wa Komori, French: Union des
Comores, Arabic: الاتحاد القمري al-Ittiḥād al-Qumurī /
Qamarī), is an island country in the Indian Ocean located at
the northern end of the Mozambique Channel off the eastern
coast of Africa. It shares maritime borders with Madagascar
and the French region of Mayotte to the southeast, Tanzania
to the northwest, Mozambique to the west, and the Seychelles
to the northeast. The capital and largest city in Comoros is
Moroni. The religion of the majority of the population, and
the official state religion, is Sunni Islam. As a member of
the Arab League, the Comoros is the only country in the Arab
world which is entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. It is
also a member state of the African Union, the Organisation
internationale de la Francophonie, the Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation, and the Indian Ocean Commission. The
Union of the Comoros has three official languages—Comorian,
French, and Arabic.
At 1,660 km2 (640 sq mi), excluding the contested island of
Mayotte, the Comoros is the fourth-smallest African nation
by area. The population, excluding Mayotte, is estimated at
832,322 as of 2018. As a nation formed at a crossroads of
different civilisations, the archipelago is noted for its
diverse culture and history.
The sovereign state is an archipelago consisting of three
major islands and numerous smaller islands, all in the
volcanic Comoro Islands. The major islands are commonly
known by their French names: northwestern-most Grande Comore
(Ngazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Ndzuani). In
addition, the country has a claim on a fourth major island,
southeastern-most Mayotte (Maore), though Mayotte voted
against independence from France in 1974, has never been
administered by an independent Comoros government, and
continues to be administered by France (currently as an
overseas department). France has vetoed United Nations
Security Council resolutions that would affirm Comorian
sovereignty over the island. In addition, Mayotte became an
overseas department and a region of France in 2011 following
a referendum passed overwhelmingly.
The archipelago was first settled by Bantu speakers who came
from East Africa, Arabs and Austronesians. It then became
part of the French colonial empire during the 19th century,
before becoming independent in 1975. Since declaring
independence, the country has experienced more than 20 coups
d'état or attempted coups, with various heads of state
assassinated.[10][11] Along with this constant political
instability, the population of the Comoros lives with the
worst income inequality of any nation, with a Gini
coefficient over 60%, while also ranking in the worst
quartile on the Human Development Index. As of 2008 about
half the population lived below the international poverty
line of US$1.25 a day.[12] The French insular region of
Mayotte, which is the most prosperous territory in the
Mozambique Channel, is a major destination for migrants from
the independent islands.
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