In 2002, Comoros was a small African country with a population of around 600,000 people. According to computerannals, it was led by President Azali Assoumani and the Federal Assembly of Comoros. The economy was largely based on agriculture and fishing, with the service sector growing rapidly in recent years. In addition to services, Comoros had begun to diversify its economy in recent years and had experienced some growth in the tourism sector. Education was highly valued in Comoros and primary school enrollment had increased significantly since independence in 1975. Healthcare services were provided by both public and private institutions, though access to healthcare remained limited due to lack of infrastructure and resources. Despite its progress since 1975, poverty remained a major issue for many Comorians with over 60 percent living below the poverty line. Corruption and mismanagement were also an issue as the government struggled to combat these issues with limited resources. Additionally, Comoros faced security threats from neighboring countries such as Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and Seychelles.

Yearbook 2002

Comoros. According to Countryaah website, national day of Comoros is every July 6. President Azali Assoumani, who has governed the Comoros since the 1999 coup, resigned at the beginning of the year to take part in the federal presidential election in April. Power was temporarily taken over by a transitional government in which the opposition also participated. However, opposition politicians left the government after a short time.

Before the presidential election, each island would have adopted its own statutes that would be approved in referendums. The same happened in Anjouan and Mohéli as early as 2001. At Grand Comore, the vote was not held until March, but the constitutional proposal was then rejected by voters. However, the new constitution was approved by voters in April.

Regional presidential elections were held on March 31 at Anjouan and Mohéli. In Anjouan, military leader Mohammed Bacar won by almost 70% of the vote. At Mohéli there was a dead race between two candidates. A new round of elections was held in early April and won by Mohammed Said Fazul.

In the April 14 federal presidential election, three candidates, in addition to Azali Assoumani, also placed Mahmoud Mradabe, a wealthy businessman, and Said Ali Kemal, descendants of the princes of Grand Comore.

The latter two claimed that irregularities had occurred during the election movement and called for a boycott. Several violent incidents were reported during Election Day. Voter turnout was low on all islands. According to preliminary results, Azali Assoumani won with 75% of the vote. International observers said the election had been carried out correctly, but refrained from calling it free and honest. However, the election was annulled by the National Electoral Commission, which ordered a new vote. The election was later approved by a new electoral authority.

Azali Assoumani took office as president in late May. Shortly before, opposition politician Abdou Soule Elbak had won the Grand Comore regional presidential election. This was seen as a setback for Assoumani.

A power struggle between the two created new tensions on the main island, and in June the military surrounded several government buildings. According to several analysts, the conflict was mainly about who would have control over the economy.

Comoros Country Overview

Visas
A visa is required when traveling to the Comoros. It can be purchased on arrival and costs around € 30. The passport must be valid for six months after the trip. The tourist must also have a return ticket out of the destination.

Note! Visa policies are subject to change without notice by local authorities.

• According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, COM stands for Comoros.

Currency
The Comorian currency is the Comorian Franc (KMF).

1 € = 490 KMF. MasterCard works best with debit cards, but in most places only cash is used.

Time zone
In summer the same time as in Finland, in winter the difference is +1 hour.

Electric current
The electric current is 220 V / 50 Hz. An adapter is not required for Finnish devices.

Mobile phones
Check the availability of your mobile phone with your operator. The area code of the Comoros is +269.

Climate 
The climate of the Comoros is a maritime tropical climate. There are two seasons. November to April is hot and humid, the rest of the year is cooler and drier. The average monthly coastal temperatures are 23-28 ° C, and the average annual rainfall is in 2,000 mm increments. Despite high rainfall, there is a shortage of fresh water in areas where the soil does not retain water at all and rainwater drains quickly into the sea. The area is also on the route of tropical hurricanes.

Religion: 98% of Comorians are Sunni Muslims and 2% are Catholic Christians

Food & beverage
The main Comorian food is rice, which is eaten with cassava, bananas, fresh and dried fish and coconut milk. Water and beverages must be industrially bottled. It is also a good idea to rinse fruits and vegetables with bottled water. Heated or tablet-purified water can be drunk. Reheated foods should be avoided.

Security
We stay on guided tours in safe areas, but pickpocketing is possible and moving around at night in certain areas may be unsafe. General caution within common sense is desirable throughout the journey.