ELECTIONS: Abdallah Abderemane won 1984 presidential election with 99% majority; Federal Assembly elected in March 1982
POLITICAL PARTY: sole legal political party is Comoran Union for Progress (UCP)
VOTING STRENGTH: UCP holds 37 seats in the Federal Assembly
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN; Chancery (temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 972-8010
U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE POST: Ambassador Patricia Gates LYNCH, resides in Antananarivo (Madagascar); Embassy at address NA, Moroni (mailing address B. P. 1318, Moroni); telephone 73-12-03
FLAG: green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the crescent points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag); there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago--Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (which is a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by the Comoros)
.ECONOMY OF COMOROS
OVERVIEW: One of the world's poorest countries, the Comoros is made up of several islands that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a low level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes about 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production, and rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. During the period 1982-86 the industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 5.3%, but its contribution to GDP was less than 4% in 1986. Despite major investment in the tourist industry, which accounts for about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated since 1983.
GDP: $163 million, per capita $390; real growth rate 2.1% (1986 est.)
INFLATION RATE (CONSUMER PRICES): 8.3% (1986)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: over 20% (1986)
BUDGET: revenues $66.6 million; expenditures $69.9 million, including capital expenditures of $34.1 million (1987)
EXPORTS: $39 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities--vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra; partners--US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2%
IMPORTS: $41 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities--rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods; partners--Europe 62% (France 22%, other 40%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China
EXTERNAL DEBT: $238 million (December 1988)
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: growth rate 8.1% (1986)
ELECTRICITY: 16,000 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced, 55 kWh per capita (1988)
CURRENCY: Comoran franc (plural--francs); 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
EXCHANGE RATES: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1--312.52 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985); linked to the French franc at 50 to 1 French franc
FISCAL YEAR: calendar year
.COMMUNICATIONS IN COMOROS
HIGHWAYS: 1,110 km (690 mi) total; about 400 km bituminous, remainder crushed stone or gravel
PORTS: Mutsamudu, Moroni
CIVIL AIR: 1 major transport aircraft
AIRPORTS: 4 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication stations for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and Reunion; 1,800 telephones; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV
.DEFENSE FORCES OF COMOROS
BRANCHES: Army, Presidential Guard, Gendarmerie
MILITARY MANPOWER: males 15-49, 93,671; 55,941 fit for military service
MILITARY BUDGET: $2.4 million, 12.06% of central government budget (1981)
.TRAVEL IN COMOROS
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Passport and visa required. Visa issued at airport upon arrival, and exit permit required for departure. Return/onward ticket also needed. Vaccination certificate not required.
HEALTH: Malaria suppressants are recommended. Unwashed raw foods or undercooked meats may not be safe to eat. Seek advice before using beaches. Health requirements change; check latest information.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING: Hot and humid Oct-March; temperate and pleasant the rest of the year. Heavy rains Dec-March. Light rainwear and summer clothing are appropriate year round.
TELEPHONE: Calls to Comoros should be made through the operator.
TIME: 8 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time, and 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: Tropical islands with some mountain climbing on Grand Comoros. Sport fishing, shell collecting, and scuba diving are popular.
IMPORTANT!! All requirements/recommendations are subject to change. Be sure to check latest information.
