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Region:
Eastern Africa
Capital:
Moroni
Population:
651,901 (July
2004 est.)
Surface
area:
2,235 sq km
Currency:
franc
GDP
per Capita:
purchasing power
parity - $700
(2002 est.)
Background:
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.
Economic
Overview:
One of the world's
poorest countries,
Comoros is made
up of three islands
that have inadequate
transportation
links, a young
and rapidly increasing
population, and
few natural resources.
The low educational
level of the
labor force contributes
to a subsistence
level of economic
activity, high
unemployment,
and a heavy dependence
on foreign grants
and technical
assistance. Agriculture,
including fishing,
hunting, and
forestry, contributes
40% to GDP, employs
80% of the labor
force, and provides
most of the exports.
The country is
not self-sufficient
in food production;
rice, the main
staple, accounts
for the bulk
of imports. The
government -
which is hampered
by internal political
disputes - is
struggling to
upgrade education
and technical
training, to
privatize commercial
and industrial
enterprises,
to improve health
services, to
diversify exports,
to promote tourism,
and to reduce
the high population
growth rate.
Increased foreign
support is essential
if the goal of
4% annual GDP
growth is to
be met. Remittances
from 150,000
Comorans abroad
help supplement
GDP.
United
Nations Membership
Date:
12 November 1975
New
York Mission:
Permanent Mission
of the Federal
Islamic Republic
of the Comoros
to the United
Nations
866 United Nations
Plaza, Suite
418
New York, N.Y.
10017 USA
Telephone: 212-750-1637
Fax: 212-750-1657,
715-0699
Website:
http://www.un.int/comoros
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