producer of coca derivatives; supplying
most of the US market and the great majority of cocaine to other
international drug markets; important supplier of heroin to the US
market; opium poppy cultivation fell 50% between 2003 and 2004 to
2,100 hectares yielding a potential 3.8 metric tons of pure heroin,
mostly for the US market; in 2004, aerial eradication treated over
130,000 hectares of coca but aggressive replanting on the part of
growers means Colombia remains a key producer; a significant portion
of non-US narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in
Colombia through the black market peso exchange

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@Comoros

Introduction Comoros

Background:
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.

Geography Comoros

Location:
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

Geographic coordinates:
12 10 S, 44 15 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
340 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Terrain:
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le
Kartala on Grand Comore is an active v