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82-608: MV Mavi Marmara is a Comoros -flagged passenger ship, which was formerly owned and operated by İDO Istanbul Fast Ferries Co. Inc. on the line Sarayburnu , Istanbul- Marmara Island - Avşa Island in the Sea of Marmara . Built at the Golden Gate Shipyard by Turkish Shipbuilding Co. in 1994, the ship has a capacity of 1,080 passengers. It is best known for its participation in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and

164-471: A "Freedom Flotilla II" was planned for the third week of June 2011. The Financial Times reported on June 17, 2011, that the Mavi Marmara would not be sailing, as previously announced. The IHH said that after damage caused last year to the ship, that it was not in a position to put to sea. The group stressed that it would still be part of the new flotilla; members of the group will board other ships in

246-652: A 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 7.69/10, ranking it 33rd globally out of 172 countries. In December 1952 a specimen of the West Indian Ocean coelacanth fish was re-discovered off the Comoros coast. The 66 million-year-old species was thought to have been long extinct until its first recorded appearance in 1938 off the South African coast. Between 1938 and 1975, 84 specimens were caught and recorded. There are six national parks in

328-778: A French-trained former gendarme elected President of Ndzwani in 2001, refused to step down at the end of his five-year mandate. He staged a vote in June 2007 to confirm his leadership that was rejected as illegal by the Comoros federal government and the African Union. On 25 March 2008 hundreds of soldiers from the African Union and the Comoros seized rebel-held Ndzwani, generally welcomed by the population: there have been reports of hundreds, if not thousands, of people tortured during Bacar's tenure. Some rebels were killed and injured, but there are no official figures. At least 11 civilians were wounded. Some officials were imprisoned. Bacar fled in

410-484: A United Nations Security Council resolution that would have affirmed Comorian sovereignty over the island. Mayotte became an overseas department and a region of France in 2011 following a referendum which was passed overwhelmingly. The Comoros were likely first settled by Austronesian / Malagasy peoples , Bantu speakers from East Africa , and seafaring Arab traders. From 1500 the Sultanate of Anjouan dominated

492-589: A bloodless coup, overthrowing the Interim President Massounde, citing weak leadership in the face of the crisis. This was the Comoros' 18th coup, or attempted coup d'état since independence in 1975. Assoumani failed to consolidate power and reestablish control over the islands, which was the subject of international criticism. The African Union , under the auspices of President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, imposed sanctions on Ndzwani to help broker negotiations and effect reconciliation. Under

574-560: A broad range of viewpoints. Participants in the Council come from a wide cross-section of the most influential spheres of Israeli society, including government and Knesset officials, university professors, and leading businessmen, bankers, lawyers, and journalists. The Council functions under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress , of which ambassador Ronald S. Lauder is president. The Council hosts speakers from around

656-530: A commitment to human rights, and several specific enumerated rights, democracy, "a common destiny" for all Comorians. Each of the islands (according to Title II of the Constitution) has a great amount of autonomy in the Union, including having their own constitutions (or Fundamental Law), president, and Parliament. The presidency and Assembly of the Union are distinct from each of the islands' governments. Up to

738-711: A director of the Free Gaza Movement , called the claims "utterly scurrilous", characterizing them as an attempt by the Israeli government to discredit the movement. However, IHH Turkey has denied any links to the group in Germany and, as of 2016, continues to work on projects in Gaza. Turkish legal authorities are investigating allegations that one of the key figures behind the May 2010 Gaza flotilla, Fehmi Bülent Yıldırım ,

820-493: A distinctive triangular shape caused by three mountain chains – Shisiwani , Nioumakele and Jimilime – emanating from a central peak, Mount Ntingui  [ fr ] (1,575 m or 5,167 ft). The islands of the Comoros Archipelago were formed by volcanic activity. Mount Karthala, an active shield volcano located on Ngazidja, is the country's highest point, at 2,361 metres (7,746 feet). It contains

902-458: A military dictatorship, and the transfer of power from Azali Assoumani to Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi in May 2006 was a watershed moment as it was the first peaceful transfer in Comorian history. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The preamble of the constitution guarantees an Islamic inspiration in governance,

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984-607: A nuclear-weapon-free state. and in 2023, Comoros was invited as a non-member guest to the G7 summit in Hiroshima . On 18 February 2023 the Comoros assumed the presidency of the African Union . In January 2024, President Azali Assoumani was re-elected with 63% of the vote in the disputed presidential election . The Comoros is formed by Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli) and Ndzwani (Anjouan), three major islands in

1066-406: A referendum on 30.7.2018 (62.7% participation, 92.34% for the amendment according to the Comorian government) the presidency of the Union rotated between the islands. The Comorian legal system rests on Islamic law , an inherited French ( Napoleonic Code ) legal code, and customary law (mila na ntsi). Village elders, kadis or civilian courts settle most disputes. The judiciary is independent of

1148-471: A speedboat to Mayotte to seek asylum. Anti-French protests followed in the Comoros (see 2008 invasion of Anjouan ). Bacar was eventually granted asylum in Benin. Since independence from France, the Comoros experienced more than 20 coups or attempted coups. Following elections in late 2010, former Vice-president Ikililou Dhoinine was inaugurated as president on 26 May 2011. Dhoinine is the first President of

1230-629: A way station for English merchants sailing to India and the Far East, as well as American whalers, although the British gradually abandoned it following their possession of Mauritius in 1814, and by the time the Suez Canal opened in 1869 there was no longer any significant supply trade at Ndzwani. Local commodities exported by the Comoros were, in addition to slaves, coconuts, timber, cattle and tortoiseshell. British and American settlers, as well as

1312-556: Is dedicated to the examination of international affairs, with special emphasis on world Jewish concerns and Israeli foreign policy. Based on the models of the New York Council on Foreign Relations and the British Chatham House , the Council is not affiliated with any governmental or academic institutions. It is an autonomous body maintaining a non-partisan approach to foreign policy matters, and accommodating

1394-591: Is endorsed by international figures that include South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire. The German IHH is classified in Israel and Holland as a terrorist organization. Much of their money goes to the Union of Good , which is designated as a Specially Designated Terrorist Group by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control and banned by Executive Order 13224. In 2010,

1476-750: Is sponsored by the European Delegation to Israel, the German Konrad Adenauer and Heinrich Böll foundations, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various European embassies in Tel Aviv , including those of Poland, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Norway and Sweden. The ICFR also cooperates with other councils on foreign relations, including the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM),

1558-781: Is the Dembeni phase (eighth to tenth centuries), during which there were several small settlements on each island. From the eleventh to the fifteenth centuries, trade with the island of Madagascar and merchants from the Swahili coast and the Middle East flourished, more villages were founded and existing villages grew. Settlers from the Arabian peninsula, particularly Hadhramaut , arrived during this period. According to legend, in 632, upon hearing of Islam , islanders are said to have dispatched an emissary, Mtswa-Mwindza, to Mecca —but by

1640-416: Is the largest of the Comoros Archipelago, with an area of 1,024 km . It is also the most recent island, and therefore has rocky soil. The island's two volcanoes, Karthala (active) and La Grille (dormant), and the lack of good harbours are distinctive characteristics of its terrain. Mwali, with its capital at Fomboni , is the smallest of the four major islands. Ndzwani, whose capital is Mutsamudu , has

1722-724: Is the only country of the Arab League which is entirely in the Southern Hemisphere . It is a member state of the African Union , the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie , the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation , and the Indian Ocean Commission . The country has three official languages: Shikomori , French and Arabic . At 1,659 km (641 sq mi), the Comoros

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1804-419: Is the third-smallest African country by area. In 2019, its population was estimated to be 850,886. The sovereign state consists of three major islands and numerous smaller islands, all of the volcanic Comoro Islands with the exception of Mayotte . Mayotte voted against independence from France in a referendum in 1974 , and continues to be administered by France as an overseas department . France has vetoed

1886-890: The African Union , the Arab League , the World Bank , the International Monetary Fund , the Indian Ocean Commission and the African Development Bank . On 10 April 2008, the Comoros became the 179th nation to accept the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Comoros signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons . Azali Assoumani , President of

1968-637: The Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs . In one of these lectures, Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu announced on the eve of Likud 's election victory in April 1996, his intention to pursue the negotiation process set forth in the Oslo agreements and respect facts on the ground. The council also holds regular conferences and seminars on various foreign policy issues, including an annual symposium on

2050-490: The Israeli blockade over Gaza . On May 30, 2010, while in international waters and en route to Gaza, Israeli Naval Forces communicated that a naval blockade over the Gaza area was in force and ordered the ships to follow them to Ashdod Port or to be boarded. The ships declined and were boarded in international waters. The boarding started at 2 am on May 31, 2010, and was completed by 8 am. Reports from journalists on

2132-649: The Swahili cultural and economic complex and the islands became a major hub of trade and an important location in a network of trading towns that included Kilwa , in present-day Tanzania, Sofala (an outlet for Zimbabwean gold), in Mozambique , and Mombasa in Kenya . The Portuguese arrived in the Indian Ocean at the end of the 15th century and the first Portuguese visit to the islands seems to have been that of Vasco da Gama 's second fleet in 1503. For much of

2214-601: The United Nations General Assembly , which adopted a series of resolutions under the caption "Question of the Comorian Island of Mayotte", opining that Mayotte belongs to the Comoros under the principle that the territorial integrity of colonial territories should be preserved upon independence. As a practical matter, however, these resolutions have little effect and there is no foreseeable likelihood that Mayotte will become de facto part of

2296-529: The legislative and the executive. The Supreme Court acts as a Constitutional Council in resolving constitutional questions and supervising presidential elections. As High Court of Justice, the Supreme Court also arbitrates in cases where the government is accused of malpractice. The Supreme Court consists of two members selected by the president, two elected by the Federal Assembly, and one by

2378-617: The medium quartile on the Human Development Index . Between 2009 and 2014, about 19% of the population lived below the international poverty line of US$ 1.90 a day by purchasing power parity . The name "Comoros" derives from the Arabic word قمر qamar (" moon "). According to mythology, a jinni (spirit) dropped a jewel, which formed a great circular inferno. This became the Karthala volcano , which created

2460-461: The second , held in February 1976, confirmed that vote with an overwhelming 99.4%, while the third, in April 1976, confirmed that the people of Mayotte wished to remain a French territory. The three remaining islands, ruled by President Soilihi, instituted a number of socialist and isolationist policies that soon strained relations with France. On 13 May 1978, Bob Denard , once again commissioned by

2542-648: The 16th century the islands provided provisions to the Portuguese fort at Mozambique and although there was no formal attempt by the Portuguese crown to take possession, a number of Portuguese traders settled and married local women. By the end of the 16th century local rulers on the African mainland were beginning to push back and, with the support of the Omani Sultan Saif bin Sultan they began to defeat

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2624-443: The African coast (nearest to Mozambique and Tanzania ) and Madagascar , with no land borders. At 1,659 km (641 sq mi), it is one of the smallest countries in the world. The Comoros also has claim to 320 km (120 sq mi) of territorial seas. The interiors of the islands vary from steep mountains to low hills. The areas and populations (at the 2017 Census) of the main islands are as follows: Ngazidja

2706-500: The Comorian parliament passed a unilateral resolution declaring independence. Ahmed Abdallah proclaimed the independence of the Comorian State ( État comorien ; دولة القمر) and became its first president. France did not recognise the new state until 31 December, and retained control of Mayotte. The next 30 years were a period of political turmoil. On 3 August 1975, less than one month after independence, president Ahmed Abdallah

2788-424: The Comoros ( République Fédérale Islamique des Comores ; جمهورية القمر الإتحادية الإسلامية). Bob Denard served as Abdallah's first advisor; nicknamed the "Viceroy of the Comoros," he was sometimes considered the real strongman of the regime. Very close to South Africa, which financed his "presidential guard," he allowed Paris to circumvent the international embargo on the apartheid regime via Moroni. He also set up from

2870-475: The Comoros Archipelago, as well as many minor islets. The islands are officially known by their Comorian language names, though international sources still use their French names (given in parentheses above). The capital and largest city, Moroni , is located on Ngazidja and the most densely populated city is Anjouan. The archipelago is situated in the Indian Ocean, in the Mozambique Channel , between

2952-534: The Comoros Archipelago. Banc du Geyser , a former island in the Comoros Archipelago, now submerged, is geographically located in the Îles Éparses , but was annexed by Madagascar in 1976 as an unclaimed territory. The Comoros and France each still view the Banc du Geyser as part of the Glorioso Islands and, thus, part of its particular exclusive economic zone. The climate is generally tropical and mild, and

3034-838: The Comoros and Chair of the African Union , attended the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg. In May 2013 the Union of the Comoros became known for filing a referral to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the events of "the 31 May 2010 Israeli raid on the Humanitarian Aid Flotilla bound for [the] Gaza Strip". In November 2014 the ICC Prosecutor eventually decided that

3116-628: The Comoros by taking possession of Mayotte in 1841 when the Sakalava usurper sultan Andriantsoly  [ fr ] (also known as Tsy Levalo) signed the Treaty of April 1841, which ceded the island to the French authorities. After its annexation, France attempted to convert Mayotte into a sugar plantation colony. Meanwhile, Ndzwani (or Johanna as it was known to the British) continued to serve as

3198-403: The Comoros from the island of Mwali. Following the 2016 elections, Azali Assoumani , from Ngazidja, became president for a third term. In 2018 Assoumani held a referendum on constitutional reform that would permit a president to serve two terms. The amendments passed, although the vote was widely contested and boycotted by the opposition, and in April 2019, and to widespread opposition, Assoumani

3280-468: The Comoros takes place in a framework of a unitary presidential republic , whereby the President of the Comoros is both head of state and head of government , and of a multi-party system . The Constitution of the Union of the Comoros was ratified by referendum on 23 December 2001, and the islands' constitutions and executives were elected in the following months. It had previously been considered

3362-607: The Comoros without its people's consent. More recently, the Assembly has maintained this item on its agenda but deferred it from year to year without taking action. Other bodies, including the Organization of African Unity , the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , have similarly questioned French sovereignty over Mayotte. To close the debate and to avoid being integrated by force in

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3444-473: The Comoros – Karthala , Coelacanth, and Mitsamiouli Ndroudi on Grande Comore, Mount Ntringui and Shisiwani on Anjouan, and Mohéli National Park on Mohéli. Karthala and Mount Ntrigui national parks cover the highest peaks on the respective islands, and Coelacanth, Mitsamiouli Ndroudi, and Shisiwani are marine national parks that protect the island's coastal waters and fringing reefs. Mohéli National Park includes both terrestrial and marine areas. Politics of

3526-407: The Comoros' largest patch of disappearing rainforest. Karthala is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, with a minor eruption in May 2006, and prior eruptions as recently as April 2005 and 1991. In the 2005 eruption, which lasted from 17 to 19 April, 40,000 citizens were evacuated, and the crater lake in the volcano's three-by-four-kilometre (2-by- 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 -mile) caldera

3608-502: The Dutch and the Portuguese. One of his successors, Said bin Sultan , increased Omani Arab influence in the region, moving his administration to nearby Zanzibar , which came under Omani rule. Nevertheless, the Comoros remained independent, and although the three smaller islands were usually politically unified , the largest island, Ngazidja, was divided into a number of autonomous kingdoms ( ntsi ). The islands were well placed to meet

3690-503: The French intelligence service ( SDECE ), returned to overthrow President Soilihi and reinstate Abdallah with the support of the French, Rhodesian and South African governments. Ali Soilihi was captured and executed a few weeks later. In contrast to Soilihi, Abdallah's presidency was marked by authoritarian rule and increased adherence to traditional Islam and the country was renamed the Federal Islamic Republic of

3772-518: The ICFR provides a forum for visiting dignitaries, diplomats, scholars, journalists and business leaders who seek a non-governmental platform in which to present and discuss their views. In recent years, guest lecturers have included the Secretary-General of the UN, presidents, prime Ministers, foreign ministers, ambassadors, and mayors. The transcripts of these lectures are often published in

3854-707: The Israeli soldiers to be legal. A Polish authority on admiralty law, Professor Andrzej Makowski of the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, also upheld this view in an extensive article in the Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs in May 2013. The Israeli government decided on July 23, 2010, to release the three ships of the Gaza Freedom flotilla, two of which had been moored at the Port of Haifa and

3936-403: The Middle East in memory of ICFR founder, David Kimche . The transcripts of such lectures are often published in the Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs . In 2011 the ICFR launched the European-Israeli Young Diplomats' Forum, a series of monthly policy talks which enable Israeli and European diplomats posted in Israel to exchange ideas on issues of common interest through policy talks. The Forum

4018-473: The Middle East. As such, it accommodates a broad range of viewpoints." The Israel Council on Foreign Relations publishes a tri-annual journal called the Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs , which has been called "one of the best publications in the field." It focuses specifically on issues of international relations most pertinent to Israel and the Jewish people, and attracts the writing of leading authorities and statesmen from Israel and abroad. In addition,

4100-606: The Paris-backed Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim became president by election. He led the country from 1996, during a time of labour crises, government suppression, and secessionist conflicts, until his death in November 1998. He was succeeded by Interim President Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde . The islands of Ndzwani and Mwali declared their independence from the Comoros in 1997, in an attempt to restore French rule. But France rejected their request, leading to bloody confrontations between federal troops and rebels. In April 1999, Colonel Azali Assoumani , Army Chief of Staff, seized power in

4182-457: The US State Department expressed great concern over the group's links with senior Hamas officials. Israel's Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center , an NGO with close ties to the Israeli Defense Forces, along with multiple Israeli governmental officials have alleged that the IHH supports terrorism, has smuggled arms on behalf of terrorist groups, and has links to al-Qaeda and other Jihadist groups. The IHH denies these claims, and Greta Berlin,

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4264-420: The Union of the Comoros, the population of Mayotte overwhelmingly chose to become an overseas department and a region of France in a 2009 referendum . The new status was effective on 31 March 2011 and Mayotte has been recognised as an outermost region by the European Union on 1 January 2014. This decision legally integrates Mayotte in the French Republic . The Comoros is a member of the United Nations ,

4346-472: The archipelago a permanent mercenary corps, called upon to intervene at the request of Paris or Pretoria in conflicts in Africa. Abdallah continued as president until 1989 when, fearing a probable coup, he signed a decree ordering the Presidential Guard, led by Bob Denard, to disarm the armed forces. Shortly after the signing of the decree, Abdallah was allegedly shot dead in his office by a disgruntled military officer, though later sources claim an antitank missile

4428-407: The coast and islands were frequently visited by Muslims including Persian and Arab merchants and sailors in search of coral , ambergris , ivory , tortoiseshell , gold and slaves. They also brought Islam to the people of the Zanj including the Comoros. As the importance of the Comoros grew along the East African coast, both small and large mosques were constructed. The Comoros are part of

4510-496: The council of each island. Around 80 percent of the central government's annual budget is spent on the country's complex administrative system which provides for a semi-autonomous government and president for each of the three islands and a rotating presidency for the overarching Union government. A referendum took place on 16 May 2009 to decide whether to cut down the government's unwieldy political bureaucracy. 52.7% of those eligible voted, and 93.8% of votes were cast in approval of

4592-462: The deadly confrontation that took place on it during the Gaza flotilla raid . The MV Mavi Marmara was purchased in 2010 by the IHH , a Turkish NGO active as a charity organization in more than 115 countries. The group has represented its Turkish language name in English in various ways, "IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation" among them. It has held Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2004, and

4674-465: The effort. Comoros The Comoros , officially the Union of the Comoros , is an archipelagic country made up of three islands in Southeastern Africa , located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean . Its capital and largest city is Moroni . The religion of the majority of the population, and the official state religion, is Sunni Islam . Comoros proclaimed its independence from France on 6 July 1975. The Comoros

4756-436: The events did constitute war crimes but did not meet the gravity standards of bringing the case before ICC. Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs ICFR was founded in 1989 by David Kimche (1928–2010), a former deputy-director of the Mossad , the Israeli intelligence agency, who later served as director-general of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israeli ambassador-at-large. The Israel Council on Foreign Relations

4838-411: The first century has been postulated. Subsequent settlers came from the east coast of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf , the Malay Archipelago , and Madagascar . Bantu -speaking settlers were present on the islands from the beginnings of settlement , probably brought to the islands as slaves. Development of the Comoros is divided into phases. The earliest reliably recorded phase

4920-452: The glass of the pilothouse were visible in pictures released. The IHH emblem on the ship's port side was painted over in white. According to Turkish news, forensic teams identified some 250 bullet holes in the ship, many of which they claim were painted or plastered over by Israel. The ship returned to Istanbul harbour on December 26, 2010, in a welcoming ceremony attended by thousands. A coalition of 22 NGOs announced on May 9, 2011, that

5002-473: The island of Ngazidja (Grande Comore). King Solomon is also said to have visited the island accompanied by his queen Bilqis . The first attested human inhabitants of the Comoro Islands are now thought to have been Austronesian settlers travelling by boat from islands in Southeast Asia . These people arrived in the area no later than the eighth century AD, the date of the earliest known archaeological site, found on Mayotte , although settlement beginning in

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5084-429: The island under French protection in exchange for French support of his claim to the entire island, which he retained until his abdication in 1910. In 1908 the four islands were unified under a single administration ( Colonie de Mayotte et dépendances ) and placed under the authority of the French colonial Governor-General of Madagascar . In 1909, Sultan Said Muhamed of Ndzwani abdicated in favour of French rule and in 1912

5166-428: The island's sultan, established a plantation-based economy that used about one-third of the land for export crops. In addition to sugar on Mayotte, ylang-ylang and other perfume plants, vanilla, cloves, coffee, cocoa beans, and sisal were introduced. In 1886, Mwali was placed under French protection by its Sultan Mardjani Abdou Cheikh. That same year, Sultan Said Ali of Bambao , one of the sultanates on Ngazidja, placed

5248-405: The islands every five years. Assoumani stepped down in 2002 to run in the democratic election of the President of the Comoros, which he won. Under ongoing international pressure, as a military ruler who had originally come to power by force, and was not always democratic while in office, Assoumani led the Comoros through constitutional changes that enabled new elections. A Loi des compétences law

5330-405: The islands, with Grande Comore split between several sultans . It became part of the French colonial empire during the 19th century, before its independence in 1975. It has experienced more than 20 coups or attempted coups, with various heads of state assassinated. Along with this constant political instability, it has one of the highest levels of income inequality of any nation, and ranks in

5412-403: The needs of Europeans, initially supplying the Portuguese in Mozambique, then ships, particularly the English, on the route to India, and, later, slaves to the plantation islands in the Mascarenes . In the last decade of the 18th century, Malagasy warriors, mostly Betsimisaraka and Sakalava , started raiding the Comoros for slaves and the islands were devastated as crops were destroyed and

5494-476: The people were slaughtered, taken into captivity or fled to the African mainland: it is said that by the time the raids finally ended in the second decade of the 19th century only one man remained on Mwali. The islands were repopulated by slaves from the mainland, who were traded to the French in Mayotte and the Mascarenes. On the Comoros, it was estimated in 1865 that as much as 40% of the population consisted of slaves. France first established colonial rule in

5576-512: The protectorates were abolished and the islands administered as a single colony. Two years later the colony was abolished and the islands became a province of the colony of Madagascar . Agreement was reached with France in 1973 for the Comoros to become independent in 1978, despite the deputies of Mayotte voting for increased integration with France. A referendum was held on all four of the islands. Three voted for independence by large margins, while Mayotte voted against. On 6 July 1975, however,

5658-467: The referendum. Following the implementation of the changes, each island's president became a governor and the ministers became councillors. In November 1975, the Comoros became the 143rd member of the United Nations . The new nation was defined as comprising the entire archipelago , although the citizens of Mayotte chose to become French citizens and keep their island as a French territory. The Comoros has repeatedly pressed its claim to Mayotte before

5740-551: The ship and from the UN report on the incident concluded that the Israeli military opened fire with live rounds before boarding the ship. Passengers on the ship actively attempted to thwart a landing on the ship by Israeli commandos. In the violent clash that followed, nine activists were killed (according to the UN Report), and a tenth died four years later of his wounds. Several dozen activists were claimed to be injured, some seriously. Israel claimed 10 of its soldiers were injured, one seriously. The U.N. report stated that knives from

5822-413: The ship's kitchens (plus one traditional, ceremonial knife), some catapults (slingshots) and metal pipes the passengers cut from the ship's railings were found. Turkey unveiled its final report on the Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound aid convoy on February 11, 2011. The Israeli government-appointed Turkel Commission unveiled its final report in January 2011, and found both the blockade and the force used by

5904-552: The terms of the Fomboni Accords, signed in December 2001 by the leaders of all three islands, the official name of the country was changed to the Union of the Comoros; the new state was to be highly decentralised and the central union government would devolve most powers to the new island governments, each led by a president. The Union president, although elected by national elections, would be chosen in rotation from each of

5986-517: The third at the Port of Ashdod since their interception. Three Turkish tugboats were dispatched to bring the ships back to Turkey. The Mavi Marmara was towed by the Ocean Ergun in a two-day ride to the Port of Iskenderun , arriving an August 7, 2010. Nobody was permitted to board the Mavi Marmara due to investigations underway by the public prosecutor, but broken windows and bullet holes on

6068-611: The time he arrived there, the Islamic prophet Muhammad had died. Nonetheless, after a stay in Mecca, he returned to Ngazidja, where he built a mosque in his home town of Ntsaweni, and led the gradual conversion of the islanders to Islam. In 933, the Comoros was referred to by Omani sailors as the Perfume Islands. Among the earliest accounts of East Africa, the works of Al-Masudi describe early Islamic trade routes, and how

6150-588: The two major seasons are distinguishable by their raininess. The temperature reaches an average of 29–30 °C (84–86 °F) in March, the hottest month in the rainy season (called kashkazi/kaskazi [meaning north monsoon], which runs from November to April), and an average low of 19 °C (66 °F) in the cool, dry season (kusi (meaning south monsoon), which proceeds from May to October). The islands are rarely subject to cyclones . The Comoros constitute an ecoregion in their own right, Comoros forests . It had

6232-702: The world, including heads of state, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and other distinguished visitors. As well, the council hosts conferences, seminars, and a monthly European-Israeli Young Diplomats' Forum. According to the ICFR's website, "The Council is an independent, multidisciplinary institution, established on the model of the New York Council on Foreign Relations and the British Chatham House. The Council aspires to stimulate public awareness of world events and insightful discussion of foreign policy issues, particularly regarding Israel and

6314-564: Was re-elected president to serve the first of potentially two five-year terms. In January 2020, the legislative elections in Comoros were dominated by President Azali Assoumani's party, the Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros , CRC. It took an overwhelming majority in the parliament. In 2021, Comoros signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons , making it

6396-538: Was destroyed. The Comoros also lays claim to the Îles Éparses or Îles éparses de l'océan indien (Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean) – Glorioso Islands , comprising Grande Glorieuse , Île du Lys , Wreck Rock , South Rock , Verte Rocks  [ fr ] (three islets) and three unnamed islets – one of France's overseas districts. The Glorioso Islands were administered by the colonial Comoros before 1975, and are therefore sometimes considered part of

6478-460: Was involved in transferring funds to al-Qaida, the Turkish daily Habertürk reported on June 15, 2012. The IHH acquired the Mavi Marmara at a cost of $ 800,000, to be defrayed by public donations, as no shipowner was willing to risk their vessel on the journey. The ship took part in a flotilla of ships operated by activist groups from 37 different countries with the intention of directly confronting

6560-522: Was launched into his bedroom and killed him. Although Denard was also injured, it is suspected that Abdallah's killer was a soldier under his command. A few days later, Bob Denard was evacuated to South Africa by French paratroopers. Said Mohamed Djohar , Soilihi's older half-brother, then became president, and served until September 1995, when Bob Denard returned and attempted another coup. This time France intervened with paratroopers and forced Denard to surrender. The French removed Djohar to Reunion, and

6642-491: Was passed in early 2005 that defines the responsibilities of each governmental body, and is in the process of implementation. The elections in 2006 were won by Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi , a Sunni Muslim cleric nicknamed the "Ayatollah" for his time spent studying Islam in Iran. Assoumani honoured the election results, thus allowing the first peaceful and democratic exchange of power for the archipelago. Colonel Mohammed Bacar ,

6724-520: Was removed from office in an armed coup and replaced with United National Front of the Comoros (FNUK) member Said Mohamed Jaffar . Months later, in January 1976, Jaffar was ousted in favour of his Minister of Defence Ali Soilihi . The population of Mayotte voted against independence from France in three referendums during this period. The first , held on all the islands on 22 December 1974, won 63.8% support for maintaining ties with France on Mayotte;

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