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Description Comoros by rbd.me
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Comoros has endured more than 20 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 in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002 presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI was elected to office. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.
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Location
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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
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Area - comparative
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slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
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Natural resources Comoros
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volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
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Population Comoros
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important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
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Religions Comoros
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Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
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Languages
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Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
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Education Comoros expenditures
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Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
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Government Comoros type
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3.8% of GDP (2002)
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Independence
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3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, Moutsamoudou*
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Comoros Economy - overview
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four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, N'gazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)
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Investment Comoros
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3% (2007 est.)
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Industries Comoros
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22 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Airports Comoros
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2.8% of GDP (2006)
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