Territorial disputes of the Comoros

Comoros is an archipelago located southeast of Africa, east of Tanzania, and northwest of Madagascar. Comoros consists of four main islands covering an area of 2,236 square kilometres. The country became independent on 6 July 1975, but one of the islands, Maore (424 km²), has remained under French administration. The sovereignty of the Republic of Comoros therefore only covers three islands: Mwali (290 km²), Ndzuwani (374 km²), and Ngazidja (1148 km²). The Archipelago of Comoros is made of volcanic islands. It has a tropical maritime climate. In 2003, the total population was estimated to be 576,000 inhabitants, mainly living in rural areas (72%). However, there are significant differences from island to island. According to the 2001 Constitution, the country is a Republic named the Union of Comoros. Each Island has its own Constitution and a large autonomy. The economy of Comoros is mainly based on agriculture. This sector represents 41% of Gross National Product (GNP), 80% of employment, and generates 90% of the State¿s income. This book discovers information on the long-running dispute over the island of Mayotte.