Comoros Country & Tourist Information

Location
Indian Ocean, between the East African coast and Madagascar.

Area
1,862 sq km (719 sq miles).

Population
812,000 (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
436 per sq km.

Capital
Moroni.
Population: 60,200 (2003).

Government
Federal Islamic Republic.

Language
The official languages are French, Arabic and Comorian, a blend of Arabic and Swahili.

Religion
Muslim (mostly Sunni) with Roman Catholic minority.

Time
GMT + 3.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Electricity shortages occur.

Head of State
President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi since 2006.

Recent History
Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi won the 2006 presidential elections. Sambi, seen as a moderate Islamist, took 58% of the vote. His election is expected to be the first peaceful transition of power for 30 years in a country which has witnessed 19 coups or coup attempts. A 2001 constitutional settlement states that the presidency must rotate every four years between the three islands. The candidates in the most recent election were all from the island of Anjouan. Following the first round of presidential elections on 10 June 2007, Colonel Mohamed Bacar was re-elected as Anjouan President. However, these elections have been rejected by the international community.

Telephone
Country code: 269. Outgoing international calls must be made through the international operator.

Mobile Telephone
Limited coverage.

Internet
A few hotels have Internet access.

Media
There is no single national newspaper. Although several private newspapers criticize the government, self-censorship is reportedly common. Local radio and TV stations operate without overt government interference.


Post
Mail to Western Europe takes at least one week.

Press
• The main (weekly) papers are Al Watwan (state-owned), published on Grand Comore, Kuesi, published on the French island of Mayotte, and La Gazette des Comores (independent).
• L’Archipel (independent) is published monthly.
• There are no English-language newspapers.

Radio
• There is a national radio station, Radio Comoros, and a national TV service.
• RFO Mayotte, run by French public radio and TV, broadcasts French and locally-produced radio and TV programs from the French island of Mayotte and can be received in parts of the archipelago.
• Other radio stations include: Radio Dziyalandze Mutsamudu (RDM), an FM station on Anjouan, which relays Radio France Internationale and Radio Ngazidja, the official station on Grand Comore.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period. 

2009 
7 Jan Ashoura.
18 Mar Anniversary of the Death of President Said Mohamed Cheikh. 
9 Mar Birth of the Prophet.
1 May Labor Day.
25 May Anniversary of the Organization of African Unity.
29 May Anniversary of the Death of President Ali Soilih.
6 Jul Independence Day. 
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
26 Nov Anniversary of the Death of President Ahmed Abdallah. 
28 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
18 Dec Muharram (Islamic New Year).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
19 Jan Ashoura.
18 Mar Anniversary of the Death of President Said Mohamed Cheikh. 
26 Feb Birth of the Prophet.
1 May Labor Day.
25 May Anniversary of the Organization of African Unity.
29 May Anniversary of the Death of President Ali Soilih.
6 Jul Independence Day. 
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
26 Nov Anniversary of the Death of President Ahmed Abdallah. 
7 Dec Muharram (Islamic New Year).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Société Comorienne de Tourisme et Hôtellerie (COMOTEL)
Itsandra Hotel, BP 1027, Njazidja, Comoros
Tel: 732 365.

Embassy of the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros in France
20 rue Marbeau, 75016 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4067 9054.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1600.

Honorary Consulate in the UK
Flat 6, 24-26 Avenue Road, London NW8 6DU, UK
Tel: (020) 7722 1146.
E-mail: kchehabi@blueyonder.co.uk

Permanent Mission of the Comoros to the United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 750 1637.
Website: www.un.int/comoros


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