Anjouan

Anjouan is an island of the archipelago of the the Comoros located in the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Mutsamudu and its population is approximately of 200.000 people. Its surface is of 424km ². It is member of the Union of the Comoros.

History

See also: History of the Comoros, List of the sultans of Anjouan

Around 1500 is founded the Sultan At of Ndzuwani, which includes all the island.

The island becomes protectorate French in 1886. In 1912, France annexes the islands of the the Comoros. Anjouan becomes a French colony then, then a Overseas territory (TOM).

By the referendum of December 22nd 1974, Anjouan chooses independence with respect to France (contrary to Mayotte) and its integration in the Islamic news Federal republic of the Comoros (RFIC). It is it should be noted that in 1974, Anjouanais decide to 99,5% against the maintenance of the statute of TOM of the French Republic (either 42 votes for the maintenance).

Since independence, the sudden archipelago of many disorders and does not manage to find the way of the democracy. It is the subject of coups d'etat violent one and expeditious catches of hand, constant with the passage by mercenaries like French Bob Denard, condemned by France.

In 1997, Anjouan and Mohéli unilaterally proclaim their independence of the RFI of the Comoros. This attempt at secession involves an embargo carried out by the RFIC and the OAU (which proves dramatic thereafter for the population).

In the tread, the island requires also its political fastening of the France. Thus, the Tricolor is hoisted and the sung Marseillaise.

France via Jacques Chirac does not take account of this claim. One can quote as explanations the fact that France does not wish to cool its relations with the RFIC or OAU, and does not want either a situation comparable with that of Mayotte under financial perfusion . For anecdote, in France, the National front decides then for the rehabilitation of the island to the Métropole.

The capacity on the island passes to the hands of a triumvirate chaired by Foundi (the Master) Abdallah Ibrahim, not French-speaking person, 80 years old, Said Abeid Abdérémane, national coordinator, and Mohamed Bacar.

The central capacity then seeks to find its authority by the force but fails. When the president Mohamed Taki Abdulkarim of the RFIC dies, the federation remains in an unsuitable constitutional vacuum with any reconciliation.

Whereas in 1998, under the aegis of OAU, Mohéli accepts the authority of Moroni again, Anjouan always refuses.

In 1999, Abdallah Ibrahim, resigned, entrusts the capacity to Abeid, the National coordinator. The August 9th 2001, Abeid is drawn aside by a coup d'etat of the gendarmerie to the profit of Bacar.

Bacar then starts a political long process of reconconciliation with Azali Assoumani after the takeover of this one in Grande Comore in order to create a new entity, the Union of the Comoros, where the islands profit from a very broad autonomy. Bacar will escape several coups d'etat including one carried out by Abeid.

Each year of many Comorians of Anjouan and Mohéli try, in a certain international indifference, to join Mayotte in boats of fortune, which involves in the passing the death of many shipwrecked men. One can explain this change of opinion of the Comorians by the great misery which crosses their islands and by the envied situation of the small neighbor mahoraise.

On its side, Mayotte accommodates despite everything exiled, even if she sees her population growing very quickly, which can cause obvious demographic problems for the future and the economic stability of the island where the birth control runs up against the taboos of a population very mainly Moslem.

Also, France wishes the re-establishment of civil peace with Anjouan, in order to facilitate the rapid return of exiled. The Union of the Comoros remains still fragile, but as well France, as the new African Union and the populations of Mayotte and Anjouan hope for a standardization of the situation.

Policy

The assembled legislative of the autonomous island of Anjouan comprises 25 seats and was elected 14 and 21 March 2004. Twenty seats were gained by the partisans of Mohamed Bacar and five by the partisans of Azali Assoumani.

The colonel Mohamed Bacar was elected in 2002 with the presidency of Anjouan.

See also: List of the presidents of the Union of the Comoros

Economy

The island of Anjouan is the principal agricultural production zone of the Union. The main resources of currencies are the Vanille, the Ylang-ylang and the Girofle, these two last productions being collected mainly in the island. The production of the fruits and vegetables is also important there and of exports take place towards Mayotte. One also cultivates a little rice there, but very insufficiently for self-sufficiency. In addition dietary habits taken to consume exotic products (flour, rice, potato…) destabilize the production.

The island shelters the deep-sea port of Mutsamudu and the school of fishings. The island has great sand beaches black, and very little white sand, tourism is thus confidential there.

Geography

City

Ouani (airport)
Mutsamudu
Domoni

Tourist sites

the Citadel of Mutsamudu, the market of the city
the Mausoleum of President Ahmed Abdallah in Domoni
the lake Dzianlandzi and the Tringi mount in the south
the area of Sima or is many exploitations of the plants with perfume which gives its nickname to the islands of the Comoros.
Falls of Tratringa, with Bambao, and the river of the same name.
the beach of Moya and the collar of the same name that the children descend on cases with soap

See too

the Combat of Anjouan, on July 25th, 1720 enters of the pirates and a British boat

External bonds

Official site of the government of the autonomous island of Anjouan
Anjouan.net
Africa Express train
Tourist site of presentation of the Island of Anjouan

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