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
Volcanic islands interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Climate
Tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Natural Hazards
Volcanic islands interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Note:
Important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Neighbouring Countries
History
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 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. Read more on Wikipedia
