Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of
Swahili and Arabic)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 64.2%
female: 50.4% (1995 est.)

@Comoros:Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
local short form: Comores

Data code: CN

Government type: independent republic

Capital: Moroni

Administrative divisions: three islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja),
Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
Moroni, and Moutsamoudou

Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Constitution: 20 October 1996

Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999); note -
the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE,
which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death of President
Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 30
April 1999
head of government: Prime Minister Bianrifi TARMIDI (since 2 December
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime
minister appointed by the president
note: President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup;
elections, in theory, should be held in the spring of 2000 but are
likely to be dependent on the island of Anjouan remaining part of the
federation
election results: results of the last presidential election before the
coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote
- 64.3%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15
seats: five from each island); members selected by regional councils
for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note
- the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April
1999
elections: Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to
be held