The Comoros (Arabic جزر القمر), officially Union of the Comoros
since 2001, form a federal island state in the Indian Ocean at the
northern exit of the Mozambique Channel between Mozambique and
Madagascar. They comprise three of the four main islands of the
Comoros archipelago. These are Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan
(Nzwani), Mohéli (Mwali) and some smaller islands. The fourth main
island Mayotte (Mahoré) is an overseas department of France and is
also claimed by the Union.
The Comoros became independent
from France in 1975 and have since experienced a checkered history
with coups and attempts at secession. Its residents are of mixed
predominantly East African and Arab descent and mostly Muslim. The
country's name is derived from the Arabic Dschuzur al-Qamar (جزر
القمر), which means "moon islands".
The Comoros consists of four main islands:
1 Grande Comore (القمر
الكبرى) . or Njazidja. It is the largest and most densely populated of
the Comoros Islands. The nation's capital, Moroni, is also located here.
The island is of volcanic origin and is home to the active volcano
Karthala, which is the highest point in the archipelago.
2 Anjouan
(أنجوان) . or Nzwani. It is the second largest of the main islands and
is characterized by its hilly topography and dense forests. The island
is known for its agriculture and the cultivation of spices such as
ylang-ylang and cloves.
3 Mohéli (موهيلي) . or Mwal. It is the
smallest of the main islands and is characterized by its lush vegetation
and natural beauty. The island is known for protecting the rare Mohéli
Scops Owl and for the unique Mohéli Marine Park.
4 Mayotte . It is
the fourth main island of the Comoros, although politically and
administratively it is an overseas department of France and therefore
not part of the independent nation of Comoros. Mayotte is known for its
coral reefs, white sandy beaches and rich marine wildlife.
1 Moroni (موروني) . It is the capital of the Comoros and the
largest city in the archipelago. It is home to several cultural
attractions such as the Moroni Market, where you can buy local products
and handicrafts. The city is also home to historic mosques and colonial
architecture.
2 Mutsamudu (موتسامودو) . It is the capital of
Anjouan and a charming city with a historic atmosphere. The city has
well-preserved colonial buildings and a vibrant culture.
3 Fomboni
(فومبوني) . It is the capital of Mohéli and offers the opportunity to
get to know life on this green and natural island. Here you can also
visit the Mwali Marine National Park.
4 Mamoudzou (Dzaoudzi) . It is
the capital of Mayotte, which is politically part of France. The city
offers insights into French culture and has some historic buildings and
markets.
Settlement in the Comoros dates back to the 6th century, when people
from various parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Indonesia settled on
the islands. The islands became an important trading center for spices,
slaves, and other goods. Over the centuries, the Comoros were influenced
by Arab traders and settlers. Islam spread throughout the islands, and
local rulers were often installed by Arab sultans.
In the 19th
century, the Comoros came under the influence of European colonial
powers. The islands were divided between various colonial powers,
including France and Britain. In 1912, the islands became a French
protectorate. In the 1960s, efforts to gain independence from France
began. In 1975, the Comoros gained independence. However, there were
many challenges in the decades that followed due to political
instability and repeated changes of government. The history of the
Comoros has been marked by separatist aspirations, with individual
islands, particularly Anjouan and Mohéli, seeking independence from the
Union of the Comoros. This led to political tensions and military
conflicts.
In recent years, there have been efforts to achieve
political stability and democratization in the Comoros. The islands have
adopted a federal constitution that grants autonomy to the various
islands while the Union of the Comoros remains a federal entity. The
Comoros is now an independent nation, consisting of three main islands:
Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli. The island of Mayotte is still under
French control and is not part of the independent nation of the Comoros.
As an archipelago, the Comoros can naturally only be reached by air
or water.
Entry requirements
Everyone needs a visa to enter
the country. The Comoros Embassy in Brussels is responsible for Germans:
Ambassade des Comores, Bosveldweg 14, 1180 Bruxelles. Tel.: +32 27
79 58 38, Fax: +32 27 79 58 38, E-mail: mission@comoros-embassy.eu.
A tourist visa can also be issued at the international airport near
Moroni on Grande Comore (« Visa aéroport »). This is valid for 45 days
and is only issued if you have a valid return ticket and sufficient
funds for the stay. Payment is made in cash in euros (2019: €30 or
US$50). The visa can be extended on site. In addition to the visa, a
valid passport or child's passport is required. Travel documents must be
valid for at least six months at the time of entry.
Customs
regulations
The import of weapons, alcohol and pornographic material
of any kind is strictly prohibited. (According to IATA, you can bring 1
bottle of liquor.) The allowance for tobacco is: 400 cigarettes or 500g
of tobacco, or 100 cigars. "From January 1, 2020, proof of vaccinations
against yellow fever and meningococcus ACWY will be required upon entry.
However, official confirmation of these vaccination requirements by the
responsible authorities is still pending."
Airplane
The only
international airport is Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport on
Grande Comore. You can get here daily from Madagascar. There are no
direct flights to the Comoros from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Flight connections are available via Paris, Nairobi, Addis Ababa or
Dubai.
Ship
Arriving with your own yacht is no problem. It is
recommended to first complete all customs formalities in the port of
Moroni or Mutsamudu (Anjouan) (visa fees + €50 port fee + €20 police;
2017). Before arriving, you must report to the harbor master (“brigade
du port”), in front of whose office you can and should moor, preferably
in French on VHF 16. Sunday is a day of rest.
You can get a mooring
permit for Mohéli (= Mwali) free of charge when you register.
An international driving license is required and is only valid in conjunction with a national German driving license.
The Comorian language is related to Swahili. Arabic and French are also official and taught languages. For travelers, French (the official language) is the best way to communicate. Without it, it becomes difficult. Arabic and Comorian (also an official language) are also spoken.
Vanilla beans or ylang-ylang oil.
Apart from a few supermarkets in
Moroni, there are only corner shops. Shops open Monday to Saturday until
5.30 p.m. Office hours are: Monday to Thursday 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday shorter.
Credit cards can only be used in better
hotels. ATMs can be found in Moroni.
1 Comorian franc (KMF, Franc Comorien) = 100 centimes. The exchange rate has been pegged to the euro since 1999 1€ = 491 KMF. There are notes for 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 KMF and coins for 25, 50, 100, 250.
The cuisine shows Malagasy and French influences. But you can also
find chapattis brought by Indian migrant workers. Freshly caught fish
can be bought unrefrigerated at the markets. Chicken is usually the meat
of choice. Plantains, breadfruit, yams and taro are the most important
sources of starch. Almost all dishes contain onions.
The turtles,
which are still numerous on Mohéli, are poached despite the ban and are
also eaten on other islands.
Small snacks are available at street
stalls. Most of the cooking is done over a wood fire.
Typical
dishes are:
Madaba: pureed cassava leaves, slowly cooked in spiced
coconut milk.
Chicken pilaf (Pilaou au poulet): chicken rice with
tomatoes and spices.
Chicken in coconut milk with lots of spices.
Pigeon peas in curry or tomato sauce.
Samoussa: Indian puff pastry
balls with a variety of fillings, mostly vegetables.
Rougail de
tomates: spicy stew adopted from Madagascar. Rice as a side dish.
Mardouf (Mkatra foutra): unleavened flatbread, made in a pan with
coconut water.
Ntrovi ya nazi: boiled or fried fish with plantains
and coconut. M'tsolola is similar, where green bananas are cooked in
coconut milk.
Poutou: spicy sauce made from chili, tomatoes, onions
and lemon.
Ntibé: pieces of meat boiled or briefly fried in oil.
Goudrou-godrou: rice and coconut spice cake.
Lobster in vanilla
sauce is more of a feast.
Nightlife in the western sense does not exist.
Beer and wine
are only served in better (hotel) restaurants. These are actually only
available in Moroni. Officially, the minimum age for alcohol, which is
not always available in smaller towns, is 18 years. To take away, you
can buy in shops run by Indians or Chinese in Moroni.
High-priced resorts can be found mainly on Grande Comore on the southwest coast. On Anjouan, better hotels are in Mutsamudu.
“It is forbidden to photograph uniformed people, military facilities and public buildings (airports, bridges, etc.). Same-sex acts are punishable. Offenses against the drug law are punishable by several years in prison. Alcohol consumption in public places, parks, etc. is regulated by the local authorities and is completely or partially prohibited in some communities. It is forbidden to criticize the government.”
It can be a good idea to try to get to Mayotte if you are ill. The
European health insurance card is valid there.
Waste disposal is
not a high priority. The medical infrastructure is extremely poor in
some areas. In addition to vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria,
polio and hepatitis A, and hepatitis B for long-term stays of more than
three months, vaccination against typhoid is advisable in certain
circumstances (e.g. trekking, etc.). Clean drinking water is not
guaranteed. If in doubt, use boiled or bottled water. Otherwise, the
rule is “cook it, peel it or forget it.”
Plasmodium falciparum,
the pathogen that causes the dreaded tropical malaria, is found
throughout the country. You should consult a travel or tropical medicine
specialist about malaria prophylaxis. Chikungunya and dengue fever
occur. Comorian fruit bats (Pteropus sp.) can transmit rabies.
The climate in Comoros is tropical, which means it is warm all year
round.
Dry season: The best time to visit Comoros is during the
dry season, which runs from May to October. During this time, the
weather is usually sunny and dry. Temperatures are pleasantly warm, and
there is less rainfall. This is the ideal time for outdoor activities,
such as hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Wet season: The
rainy season in Comoros extends from November to April. During this
time, heavy rain and thunderstorms can occur frequently. Temperatures
remain high, but the high humidity and rainfall can affect travel and
outdoor activities.
Typhoons: Comoros is occasionally affected by
tropical cyclones and typhoons, especially between November and April.
The Comoros are 99% Islamic. Islam is also the state religion, so the
usual basic rules for Islamic countries apply. This includes appropriate
clothing (bikini in the city or shorts and hot pants, or miniskirts are
rather unwise) and not drinking alcohol in public.
Younger men,
especially on Anjouan, move into bachelor huts (vala), but then continue
to go home to their parents for dinner. It is not unusual for men to
live with a woman in a "small marriage" and possibly have children. But
it is only the "grande marriage" (anda) that makes a man a man. This
requires expensive gifts for the bride's entire family. The groom often
gets into debt for years. At home in the Comoros, the woman wears the
trousers. They own the houses, inheritance is passed down through the
female line to the daughters.
Power outages are common.
The daytime is quiet during Ramadan,
this year from March 10, 2024 to April 9, 2024.
There is only one EU embassy in the Comoros, that of France. In
urgent cases, you can reach them by phone: +269-730.753 or fax:
+269-730.922 and in emergencies by phone: +269-730.615.
The
responsible German embassy is in Dar-es-Salam (Umoja House, corner of
Hamburg Av. / Mirambo St., 2nd Floor, Daressalam.) in Tanzania. Tel.
(Mon-Thurs 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.): +255 22 2212300. Emergencies ONLY,
after office hours: +255686054081. The embassy in Dar-es-Salam is also
responsible for Austria.
The Swiss Consulate in Moroni (Quartier
Magoudjou, Mangani; Tel.: +269 333 0787 ) is subordinate to the embassy:
Ambassade de Suisse, Immeuble "ARO" - 2ème étage, Làlana
Solombavambahoaka Frantsay 77, Antsahavola, 101 Antananarivo,
Madagascar. Tel.: +41 58 462 19 61, Fax: +41 31 462 19 64, Email:
antananarivo@eda.admin.ch.
he Comoros archipelago rises on a submarine ridge. All islands are of volcanic origin and have a mountainous relief. The landscape is characterized by volcanic mountains with deeply furrowed slopes, plateaus, chains of hills and mostly only narrow coastal strips. The coasts of the islands are mostly rocky and bordered by coral reefs. In the center of the main island of Grande Comore lies the 2361 meter high active volcano Karthala. The last major eruption happened in 1977, during which an entire village was overrun by the lava. In early 2005 there was a smaller eruption that proceeded with no explosion or lava flow. Only ash covered a considerable part of the volcano after the eruption. In late May 2006, the volcano blanketed the capital, Moroni, with a cloud of dust and smoke, prompting local evacuations.
The tropical-maritime climate shows only slight temperature fluctuations over the course of the year. The average temperature of the coolest months (July/August) is 22 °C, that of the warmest months (February/March) 27 °C. The dry south-east trade winds prevail between May and October, and the rain-bringing north-west monsoon from November to April. The wettest month is January. Depending on the altitude, annual precipitation is between 1000 and 4000 mm. In the hot season, tropical cyclones often hit the islands.
The
original vegetation - dense tropical rain forest with valuable types of
wood - has been pushed back and is almost only preserved at higher
altitudes. Plantations and savannahs characterize the landscape today.
Coconut palms, bananas and mango trees are the most common in the
lowlands. The coasts are partially overgrown by mangroves. The land
fauna is relatively species-poor and shows similarities with that of
Madagascar. There are rare species of birds and turtles, as well as a
species of wet-nosed monkey, the mongoose, found only here. The coastal
waters including the coral reefs, on the other hand, are rich in many
aquatic animals. A special feature is the coelacanth; In 1938, a
representative of this genus, which until then had only been known as a
fossil, was caught off the Comoros for the first time.
See also:
nature reserves in the Comoros.
The Comoros had 870,000 inhabitants in 2020. Annual population growth was +2.2%. An excess of births (birth rate: 30.9 per 1000 inhabitants vs. death rate: 7.1 per 1000 inhabitants) contributed to population growth. The number of births per woman was statistically 4.1 in 2020, although this value was still around 7 children in the mid-1970s. The median age of the population in 2020 was 20.4 years.
Anjouan is the most densely populated island in the archipelago. In
2004, 64% of the population still lived in the countryside.
The
descendants of the princes and sultans trace their genealogies to Arab
immigrants who intermarried into a matrilineal family of local chiefs.
According to this tradition, inheritance is transmitted matrilineally,
name and title are passed on patrilineally.
Official languages
are Comorian (related to Swahili), Arabic and French. The Comorians (97%
of the total population) are descended from Arabs, Malagasy, Bantu,
Indians, Shirazis and Indo-Melanesians. In addition, several hundred
Europeans live on the islands. Population growth and high unemployment
lead to emigration, mainly to Mayotte and Madagascar.
The Comoros
are among the poorest countries in the world.
The country's state religion is Sunni Islam of the Shafi'i school of law. About 99% of the population belong to it. In addition, there is a small minority of Indian Ismailis (Shia) in the Comoros, as well as Catholic-charitable missionary work; about 1% of the population professes Christianity.
After gaining independence and the departure of French teachers, the education system was of poor quality, with moderately trained teachers. Since the education reform of 1975, schooling has been compulsory for a period of eight years, including the two-year Koran school for pre-school children. The illiteracy rate is estimated at 50%.
Social welfare and health care have significant gaps. Malnutrition is one of the reasons for the high infant mortality rate (2004: 5.2%). Malaria is widespread. In 2018, 2.6 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants practiced in the Comoros. The infant mortality rate was 52 per 1000 live births in 2019, and the infant mortality rate was 68 per 1000. The life expectancy of Comoros residents from birth was 64.5 years in 2020 (women: 66.3, men: 62.8).
It is not known exactly when and where the earliest inhabitants of the archipelago came from; Archaeologists have found traces of a 6th-century settlement on Anjouan. It is believed that Austronesian immigrants who came by sea from Indonesia and landed in Madagascar in the 1st millennium AD also settled in the Comoros. In addition, Bantu came from East Africa (especially Mozambique).
Arabs and Persians also visited the islands; from the 15th century they increasingly settled on the four main islands, introduced Islam, founded sultanates mainly in the coastal area and pushed the old population into the interior of the islands. In the 16th century, Comoros was a regional trading center, exporting rice, spices, ambergris and slaves to East African and Middle Eastern port cities.
The first European visitors were Portuguese, who landed on Grande Comore in 1505. In 1527 the Comoros appear for the first time on a Portuguese map. For a long time, however, the Europeans were unable to exert any formative influence. The settlements founded by the Portuguese, Dutch and French in the 16th century were soon dissolved. Arab-Islamic influence remained dominant until the mid-19th century. The Shirazi sultans appropriated larger lands, which they farmed from local workers, but often also from slaves imported from East Africa. In 1865 an estimated 40% of the population were slaves. From the late 18th century, the Sakalava of Madagascar carried out slave hunts in the Comoros and nearly depopulated Mayotte; these raids ended after the Merina conquered the Sakalava kingdoms. Thereafter, groups of Sakalava and Betsimisaraka settled on Mayotte and Mohéli.
In the first half of the 19th century,
rivalry between France and Great Britain over the western Indian Ocean
islands began. France prevailed in the Comoros region, taking Mayotte in
1841; In 1886 the remaining three islands also came under French
protectorate. In 1912 the last sultan abdicated and the Comoros came
under colonial administration with the main town of Dzaoudzi on Mayotte.
Under colonial rule, slavery was abolished; the economy was geared
towards the cultivation of vanilla, ylang-ylang and other products, with
the profits hardly being reinvested in the Comoros.
During World
War II, the islands, which had declared themselves in favor of Marshal
Philippe Pétain's Vichy government, were temporarily occupied by British
troops. In 1946, the Comoros, no longer administered from Madagascar,
were given the status of a French overseas territory with administrative
autonomy. According to the Loi Lamine Guèye of 1946, all citizens had
the right to vote in elections to the French parliament and also in
local elections. This introduced limited women's suffrage. The right to
stand as a candidate was not expressly mentioned in the law, but it was
not excluded either. There was a two-class suffrage system that favored
citizens of French origin.
On June 23, 1956, the loi-cadre
Defferre was introduced. With this, France guaranteed the right to vote
and the transition to full internal autonomy, which, however, was not
finally granted until January 1968. In a referendum in 1958, the voters
decided with a clear majority to remain with France. The two mainstream
political parties in the 1960s - the Parti Vert led by Saïd Mohamed
Cheikh and the Parti Blanc led by Prince Saïd Ibrahim Ben Ali - were
both pro-French, conservative and dominated by the sultans' descendants.
The Mouvement de la Liberation Nationale des Comores (Molinaco)
independence movement was founded by Comorians in Tanzania in 1962 and
from 1967 began to extend its influence to the Comoros itself. The
widespread feeling of being neglected by France, combined with the
independence of nearby Tanganyika and Zanzibar and the beginning of
independence movements in Mozambique, increased support for
independence, especially among younger Comorians. Under the government
of Ahmed Abdallah, in office since 1972, another referendum on
independence was held in 1974, in which around 95% voted for
independence, but around 63% voted to stay with France in Mayotte.
Comoros unilaterally declared
independence on July 6, 1975. Universal suffrage was confirmed.
The first President Ahmed Abdallah was overthrown in a coup on August 3,
1975 and reinstated in another coup against his successor Ali Soilih in
1978, and was assassinated in a third coup in 1989. All three coups were
largely aided by French mercenary Bob Denard, who took control of the
Comoros economy and was considered the unofficial king of the island
nation at the time. At first he asserted French interests, later he also
opposed France. After a fourth coup in 1995, he was arrested and taken
to France by a French expeditionary force that reinstated the
government.
After the 1989 coup, Said Mohamed Djohar, previously
President of the Supreme Court, automatically became President of the
country. Despite accusations against him of orchestrating the
assassination of his predecessor, he narrowly won elections in 1990,
becoming his country's first democratically elected president.
From 1975 to 2008 there were a total of 20 armed coups and attempts at
secession in the Comoros.
The Comoros had 870,000 inhabitants in 2020. Annual population growth was + 2.2%. A surplus of births (birth rate: 30.9 per 1,000 inhabitants vs. death rate: 7.1 per 1,000 inhabitants) contributed to population growth. The number of births per woman was statistically 4.1 in 2020, although in the mid-1970s this figure was still around 7 children. The median age of the population in 2020 was 20.4 years.
Anjouan is the most densely populated island in the archipelago. In
2004, 64% of the inhabitants still lived in rural areas.
The
descendants of the princes and sultans trace their genealogy back to
Arab immigrants who married into a matrilineal family of local chiefs.
According to this tradition, inheritance is passed on matrilineally,
with names and titles being passed on patrilineally.
The official
languages are Comorian (related to Swahili), Arabic and French. The
Comorians (97% of the total population) are descended from Arabs,
Malagasy, Bantu, Indians, Shirasi and Indo-Melanesians. A few hundred
Europeans also live on the islands. Population growth and high
unemployment lead to emigration, especially to Mayotte and Madagascar.
The Comoros are one of the poorest countries in the world.
The country's state religion is Sunni Islam of the Shafi'i school of law. Around 99% of the population adhere to this religion. There is also a small minority of Indian Ismailis (Shia) on the Comoros, as well as Catholic charitable missionary work; around 1% of the population is Christian.
After independence and the departure of French teachers, the education system was of poor quality with moderately trained teachers. Since the education reform in 1975, school attendance has been compulsory for eight years, including two years of Koran school for preschool children. The illiteracy rate is estimated at 50%.
There are significant gaps in social welfare and health care. Malnutrition is one of the reasons for the high infant mortality rate (2004: 5.2%). Malaria is widespread. In 2018, there were 2.6 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants practicing in the Comoros. The infant mortality rate in 2019 was 52 per 1,000 live births, and the child mortality rate was 68 per 1,000. The life expectancy of the Comoros population from birth in 2020 was 64.5 years (women: 66.3, men: 62.8).
According to the 2001 constitution, the Comoros are a federal
republic. The head of state and government is the directly elected
president. Since the constitutional referendum in 2009, Islam has been
the state religion.
The 2001 constitution provided for the
rotation principle. The presidency rotated every four years between
residents of the three main islands of Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan
(Nzwani) and Mohéli (Mwali), with only the population of a single island
being allowed to vote. In 2002, this was Grande Comore. In the 2006
presidential election, when only candidates from the island of Anjouan
were allowed to run, the moderate Islamist Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi
won with 58% of the vote against Ibrahim Abderamane Halidi (28%), who
was supported by the previous president. The Sunni businessman Sambi,
also known in the Comoros as "Ayatollah" because of his theological
studies in Iran, vehemently denied after his election that he wanted to
turn the Comoros into an Islamic state. The 2016 presidential election
was won by the former coup leader Azali Assoumani.
In a
constitutional referendum on July 31, 2018, the four-year rotation of
the presidency was abolished. Regardless of origin, a president can now
rule for two five-year terms. According to the electoral commission,
92.74 percent voted yes, with a voter turnout of 63.9 percent. The
opposition had called for a boycott of the election because they feared
that the constitutional amendment would consolidate and extend President
Azali Assoumani's power. In 2019, the president was re-elected with
60.8% of the votes cast in the first round. The opposition and
international election observers criticized irregularities and a lack of
transparency.
The legislature is made up of the Union Assembly
with 33 members, 24 of whom are elected every five years, while the
remaining 9 seats are reserved for members of the regional parliaments.
There has been a multi-party system since 1990. The Camp des Îles
Autonomes (CdIA) emerged victorious in the 2004 elections with 12 seats,
ahead of the Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) with 6
seats. In 2009, the CdIA won the elections again. In the 2015 elections,
the Union for the Development of Comoros (UPDC) became the strongest
force with 11 seats, followed by the Juwa party with 10 and the
Democratic Rally of the Comoros (RDC) with four seats. In 2020, the CRC
won 20 of the 24 mandates determined by direct election, with two seats
each going to the Parti Orange and independents. The formerly strongest
parties, CdIA and UPDC, did not enter parliament.
The highest
legal authority is the Supreme Court, which is represented equally by
all islands.
The Comoros is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the
Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Community of
Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) and, since 2017, the Southern African
Development Community (SADC).
The Comoros have been trying to
join the World Trade Organisation since 2007. On February 26, 2024, the
members of the WTO decided to admit the Comoros. After submitting the
formal accession documents, the country became the 165th member of the
organisation on August 21, 2024.
The country has an 800-strong army with a police-like character, the Armée nationale de développement. The country is supported militarily by France, which has stationed small naval and foreign legion units on Mayotte. South Africa provides military aid.
The economically underdeveloped island state is highly dependent on foreign support. The most important source of financing the state budget is budget aid from France. The Comoros is one of the least developed countries in the world as defined by the United Nations.
Agriculture, including fishing, hunting and forestry, was the
livelihood of 73% of the population in 2001 and accounted for the
largest share of the gross domestic product at 41% in 2004. Small
subsistence farms mainly grow manioc, corn, yams, sweet potatoes,
bananas and rice. Vanilla, cloves, pepper, cocoa, sisal and coconut
palms grow on plantations, which are mostly owned by French
shareholders. The Comoros is also a major producer of ylang-ylang oil.
The main sources of energy for the population are firewood and
agricultural waste. Commercial energy production is based primarily on
imported oil. Industry is hardly developed; Small businesses supply the
domestic market, some process agricultural products for export. The main
export goods in 2003 were vanilla (78%), cloves (13%) and ylang-ylang
(6%), of which 39% went to France, 20% to the United States and 7% to
Germany in 2000. Imports included 20% petroleum products, 18% food, 13%
vehicles and 5% cement, 37% from France, 14% from Pakistan, 11% from
Kenya and 9% from South Africa.
The total road network covers
around 900 km, of which around 500 km are paved. Grande Comore and
Anjouan have ring-shaped coastal roads. There are ship and air
connections between the islands. The most important port is Mutsamudu on
Anjouan. There is an international airport on Grande Comore. Tourism,
which has so far been insignificant, is being promoted with French and
South African support. Most guests come from France. The level of
education is low, which encourages subsistence farming, resulting in
high unemployment of around 20% (1996).
The state budget in 2016 included expenditure of the equivalent of 186 million US dollars on income of the equivalent of 165 million US dollars. This results in a budget deficit of 3.3% of gross domestic product.
The most popular sport in the Comoros is football. The association
was admitted to FIFA on September 12, 2005, together with East Timor. In
1979, the national team played its first friendly match, which was lost
1:6 against the Réunion football team. The first victory (1:0) came in
1990 in the third match against Réunion. The first official match after
admission to FIFA was a match in 2006 against the Yemeni national
football team, which was lost 0:2.
After many unsuccessful years,
the Comoros qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, their first
major international tournament.