The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

three islands; Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mwali, formerly Grand Comore, Anjouan,

       and Moheli respectively; note - there are also four municipalities named

       Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu

       Independence:

       31 December 1975 (from France)

       Constitution:

       1 October 1978, amended October 1982 and January 1985

       Legal system:

       French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

       National holiday:

       Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

       Executive branch:

       president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale)

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

       Leaders:

       Chief of State and Head of Government:

       President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); coordinator of National

       Unity Government (de facto prime minister) - Mohamed Taki ABDULKARIM (1

       January 1992)

       Suffrage:

       universal at age 18

       Elections:

       Federal Assembly:

       last held 22 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results - percent of

       vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) Udzima 42

       President:

       last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results - Said Mohamed

       DJOHAR (Udzima) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%

       Member of:

       ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF,

       ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

       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 [phone]

       US:

       Ambassador Kenneth N. PELTIER; Embassy at address NA, Moroni (mailing

       address B. P. 1318, Moroni); telephone 73-22-03, 73-29-22

       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)

      :Comoros Economy

      Overview:

       One of the world's poorest countries, 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 grants and technical

       assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the

       leading sector of the economy. It contributes about 34% 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 only 5% in

       1988. Despite major investment in the tourist industry, which accounts for

       about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of

       1.5% during 1985-90 has led to large budget deficits, declining incomes, and

       balance-of-payments difficulties. Preliminary estimates for 1991 show a

       moderate increase in the growth rate based on increased exports, tourism,

       and government investment outlays.

       GDP:

       exchange rate conversion - $260 million, per capita $540; real growth rate

       2.7% (1991 est.)

       Inflation rate (consumer prices):

       4.0% (1991 est.)

       Unemployment rate:

       over 16% (1988 est.)

       Budget:

       revenues $88 million; expenditures $92 million, including capital

       expenditures of $13 million (1990 est.)

       Exports:

       $16 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

       commodities:

       vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra, ylang-ylang

       partners:

       US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)

       Imports:

       $41 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

       commodities:

       rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods

       partners:

       Europe 62% (France 22%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China (1988)

       External debt:

       $196 million (1991 est.)

       Industrial production:

       growth rate 3.4% (1988 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP

       Electricity:

       16,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1991)

       Industries:

       perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials,

       soft drinks

       Agriculture:

       accounts for 34% of GDP; most of population works in subsistence agriculture

       and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for export - vanilla, cloves,

       perfume essences, and copra; principal food crops - coconuts, bananas,

       cassava; world's leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang (for perfumes)

       and second-largest producer of vanilla; large net food importer

      :Comoros Economy

      Economic aid:

       US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million; Western (non-US)

       countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $435 million; OPEC

       bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $18

       million

       Currency:

       Comoran franc (plural - francs); 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes

       Exchange rates:

       Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 269.01 (January 1992), 282.11 (1991),