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Comoros:
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Other pages in this profile of the Comoros:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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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. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May 2002. |
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Location |
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique |
Geographic coordinates |
12 10 S, 44 15 E |
Map references |
Africa |
Area |
total: 2,170 sq km land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative |
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries |
0 km |
Coastline |
340 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate |
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) |
Terrain |
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m |
Natural resources |
NEGL |
Land use |
arable land: 35.87% permanent crops: 23.32% other: 40.81% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
NA |
Natural hazards |
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano |
Environment - current issues |
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note |
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |