Comoros ( Union des Comores) is a country in Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and norther. Comoros geographic coordinates 12 10 S, 44 15 E; area 2,170 sq km; area comparative slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC; land boundaries 0 km; coastline 340 km; maritime claims exclusive economic zone:<; climate tropical marine; rainy season (November to May); terrain volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills; elevation extremes Le Kartala 2,360 m; natural resources NEGL; land use 40.81% (2001); irrigated land NA sq km; natural hazards cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active v; environment current issues soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation; environment international agreements none of the selected agreements; geography note important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel;

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Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their 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 was sworn in on 26 May 2002. government type independent republic; capital Moroni; administrative divisions 3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou; independence 6 July 1975 (from France); national holiday Independence Day, 6 July (1975); constitution 23 December 2001 a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on 20 January 2002 following passage of a new constitut; legal system French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Comoros population 671,247 (July 2005 est.); age structure 3% (male 9,407/female 10,561) (2005 est.); median age 18.87 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 2.91% (2005 est.); birth rate 37.52 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 83.48 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 64.33 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 5.09 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 0.12% (2001 est.); hiv people with aids NA; hiv deaths NA; nationality Comoran; ethnic groups Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava; religions Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%; languages Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic); literacy 49.3% (2003 est.);

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