From wikipedia about Comoros
The
Comoros (; جزر القمر,), officially the Union of the
Comoros (Comorian: Udzima wa Komori, Union des Comores, الاتحاد القمري) is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the
Mozambique Channel, between northeastern
Mozambique and northwestern
Madagascar. Other countries near to the
Comoros are
Tanzania to the northwest and the
Seychelles to the northeast. The capital is Moroni on Grande Comore.
At (excluding
Mayotte), Dominique and Michelle Frémy (2004). Quid 2005 Editions Robert Laffont. p. 1175. the
Comoros is the third-smallest African nation by area. With a population estimated at 798, 000 (excluding
Mayotte), it is the sixth-smallest African nation by population—although it has one of the highest population densities in Africa. Its name derives from the Arabic word ("moon"). The archipelago is notable for its diverse culture and history, as a nation formed at the crossroads of many civilizations. It is the southernmost member state of the Arab League. Though in the contested island of
Mayotte the sole official language is French, the "Union of the Comoros" has three official languages: Comorian, Arabic, and French.
The country officially consists of the four islands in the volcanic
Comoros archipelago: northwesternmost Grande Comore or Ngazidja, Mohéli or Mwali, Anjouan or Nzwani, and southeasternmost
Mayotte or Maore, as well as many smaller islands. However, the government of the
Comoros (or its predecessors, since independence) has never administered the island of
Mayotte, which
France administers as an overseas department.
Mayotte was the only island in the archipelago that voted against independence from
France in 1974; the latter has vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that would affirm Comorian sovereignty over the island. The first UN General Assembly Resolution regarding the matter, " of
France in 2011 was passed overwhelmingly by the people of
Mayotte.
The
Comoros is the only state to be a member of all of the following: African Union, Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League, and Indian Ocean Commission. The country has had a history marked by numerous coups d état since independence in 1975. As of 2008 about half the population lives below the international poverty line of US$1. 25 a day., Table 3: Human and income poverty, p. 35. Retrieved on 1 June 2009