At a Glance
Alliances & Memberships
- UN
- AU (chaired 2023)
- Arab League
- OIC
- AOSIS
Foreign Policy Overview
SIDS climate advocacy; Mayotte sovereignty claim against France; Indian Ocean diplomacy.
Key Positions on Major Issues
Mayotte reintegration; climate justice; pro-Palestine.
UN Voting Record Notes
AU/OIC/AOSIS aligned.
Economy & Trade
The Comorian economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture and fisheries, with a heavy reliance on remittances from its extensive diaspora in France. Key exports include vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang essence, making it one of the world's leading producers of the latter for the perfume industry. The currency is the Comorian Franc (KMF), pegged to the Euro via the French Treasury. Major trading partners include France, India, the United Arab Emirates, and China, while the country faces significant challenges from a high debt-to-GDP ratio and vulnerability to climate change.
Military & Security
The Comorian Security Forces (FSC) consist of a small standing army, gendarmerie, and coast guard, totaling approximately 2,000 active personnel. Defense spending is minimal, with the government relying heavily on security cooperation agreements with France for maritime surveillance and external defense. The country maintains a non-nuclear status and follows a doctrine focused on internal stability and anti-piracy efforts in the Mozambique Channel. Recent years have seen increased cooperation with the United States and India concerning maritime security and disaster response.
Recent History
Since the 2001 Fomboni Accords, which established a rotating presidency between the three main islands to curb separatist movements, Comoros has sought to stabilize its volatile political landscape. However, the 2018 constitutional referendum abolished the rotation system and allowed President Azali Assoumani to seek re-election, a move that sparked significant domestic opposition and international scrutiny. In 2023, Comoros gained significant diplomatic visibility when President Azali assumed the chairmanship of the African Union, focusing on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The country remains deeply entangled in a diplomatic dispute with France over Mayotte, which remained under French control following independence in 1975. Economic policy is currently dominated by the 'Emergence Comoros 2030' plan, aimed at revitalizing infrastructure through foreign investment.
International Memberships
- African Union (AU)since 1975
Founding member; plays an active role in African peace and security initiatives; President Azali Assoumani served as AU Chairperson in 2023.
- Southern African Development Community (SADC)since 2018
Joins the regional economic community to bolster trade ties with Southern African nations.
- Arab Leaguesince 1993
Member since independence, maintaining strong cultural and linguistic ties to the Arab world.
- United Nations (UN)since 1975
Comoros is a member of the 'Indian Ocean Commission' and participates in UN-led Small Island Developing States (SIDS) forums.
MUN Negotiation Profile
G77 + China, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), African Group, Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Pragmatic and consensus-driven; often acts as a bridge between the African Union and the Arab League. Comoros prioritizes diplomatic solutions that secure developmental aid and infrastructure investment.
- Any challenge to the sovereignty of Comoros over the 'Comorian Island of Mayotte' (currently a French overseas department).
- Interventionist policies that bypass the African Union's 'African solutions to African problems' framework.
- Climate change agreements that do not provide specific financial mechanisms for loss and damage in island nations.
- "The urgent need for climate finance and debt restructuring for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to survive rising sea levels."
- "Reaffirming the territorial integrity of the Union of the Comoros, including the return of Mayotte."
- "Expanding regional cooperation in the Mozambique Channel to combat illegal fishing and maritime piracy."