Government (Comoros)
====================


     Long-form name:
         Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
     Type:
         independent republic
     Capital:
         Moroni
     Administrative divisions:
         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 (212) 972-8010
       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)