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| − | {{country
| + | A place where nobody dared to go |
| − | |map=cn-map.gif
| + | The love that we came to know |
| − | |flag=Flag of the Comoros.jpg
| + | They call it Xanadu |
| − | |capital=Moroni
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| − | |president=Ahmed Abdallah M. Sambi
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| − | }}
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| − | The '''Comoros''' is an [[archipelago]] nation consisting of three islands off the east coast of [[Africa]], near [[Mozambique]] and to the northwest of [[Madagascar]]. Its capital is Moroni. Most of the nation's population is [[Muslim]], and the crescent and the star representing Islam appear on the flag of Comoros. | |
| | | | |
| − | ==History==
| + | And now |
| − | Comoros has endured 19 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. 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 took office in May 2002.
| + | Open your eyes and see |
| − | ===Geographic coordinates===
| + | What we have made is real |
| − | 12 10 S, 44 15 E
| + | We are in Xanadu |
| − | ===Executive Branch===
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| − | chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006)
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| − | head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006)
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| − | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
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| − | elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three main islands in the Union; election last held 14 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2010); prime minister appointed by the president; note - the post of prime minister has been vacant since May 2002
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| − | election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed DJAANFAMI 13.7%
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| − | ===Legislative Branch===
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| − | Unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by universal suffrage; to serve for five years);
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| − | elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
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| − | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies from local island assemblies
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| − | ===Judicial Branch===
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| − | Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic)
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| − | ===Political Parties===
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| − | Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assowmani]; Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union President); Front National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
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| − | ===Economy===
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| − | 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, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and 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.
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| | | | |
| | + | A million lights are dancing |
| | + | And there you are |
| | + | A shooting star |
| | + | An everlasting world |
| | + | And you're here with me |
| | + | Eternally |
| | | | |
| − | [[Category:African Countries]]
| + | Xanadu, Xanadu, |
| | + | (now we are here) |
| | + | In Xanadu |
| | + | Xanadu, Xanadu, |
| | + | (now we are here) |
| | + | In Xanadu |
| | + | |
| | + | Xanadu, your neon lights will shine |
| | + | For you, Xanadu |
| | + | |
| | + | The love |
| | + | The echoes of long ago |
| | + | You needed the world to know |
| | + | They are in Xanadu |
| | + | |
| | + | The dream |
| | + | That came through a million years |
| | + | That lived on through all the tears |
| | + | It came to Xanadu |
| | + | |
| | + | A million lights are dancing |
| | + | And there you are |
| | + | A shooting star |
| | + | An everlasting world |
| | + | And you're here with me |
| | + | Eternally |
| | + | |
| | + | Xanadu, Xanadu, |
| | + | (now we are here) |
| | + | In Xanadu |
| | + | Xanadu, Xanadu, |
| | + | (now we are here) |
| | + | In Xanadu |
| | + | |
| | + | Now that I'm here |
| | + | Now that you're near in Xanadu |
| | + | Now that I'm here |
| | + | Now that you're near in Xanadu |
| | + | Xanadu... |