Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros

Location

Four islands in the Mozambique Channel roughly 500km west of the northern tip of Madagascar and 300km east of Mozambique.

Area

2236 sq km, divided among the islands as follows:

Njazidja (Grand Comore) -- 1148 sq km

Nzwani (Anjouan) -- 424 sq km

Mahoré (Mayotte) -- 374 sq km

Mwali (Mohéli) -- 290 sq km

Climate

Hot and rainy from December to March

Dry and pleasant from May to October

Independence

Unilateral declaration of independence 6 July 1975; France renounced sovereignty 3 Jan 1976 -- except in Mayotte.

Government

Republic

Head of State

President Said Mohamed Djohar

Capital

Moroni

Population

540,000 (estimate Jan. 1995)

Languages

Arabic and French are the official languages. The lingua franca, however, is the Comorian variety of Swahili.

Religion

Islam -- with a very small number of Catholics.

Currency

Comoros franc divided into 100 centimes.