Government & politics — Comoros
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Government & politics at a glance
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations. Key figure for Comoros: Union of the Comoros
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Identity & names
- Full Country Name
Union of the Comoros
- Country Name
Comoros
- Local - Long
Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)/Union des Comores (French)/Al Ittihad al Qumuri (Arabic)
- Local - Short
Komori (Comorian)/Les Comores (French)/Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)
- Former Name
Comorian State, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
- Etymology- history of name
Name derives from the Arabic designation "Juzur al Qamar" meaning "Islands of the Moon"
- Independence
6 July 1975 (from France)
- National Holiday
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Political system
- Government Type
Federal Presidential Republic
- Constitution
- History: Previous 1996, 2001;
- newest adopted 30 July 2018 Amendments: Proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at least three-quarters majority of th
- e total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum. Note: A referendum held on 30 July 2018 - boycotted by the opposition - overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that allows for 2 consecutive 5-year presidential terms and revises the rotating presidency within the islands.
- Legal System:
Mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law
- Executive Branch:
- Chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016); note - the president is
- President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016) Cabinet: Council o
- f Ministers appointed by the president Elections/Appointments: President directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held
- on 14 January 2024 (next to be held in 2029) Election Results: 2024: AZALI Assoumani reelected president in first round - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 63%, SALIM ISSA Abdallah (PJ) 20.3%, DAOUDOU Abdallah Mohamed (Orange Party) 5.9%, Bourhane HAMIDOU (independent) 5.1% 2019: AZALI Assoumani elected president in first round - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 60.8%, Ahamada MAHAMOUDOU (PJ) 14.6%, Mouigni Baraka Said SOILIHI (independent) 5.6%, other 19%
- Legislative Branch:
Description
Unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 24 members directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed and 9 members indirectly elected by the 3 island assemblies; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections
Last held on 19 January 2020 with a runoff on 23 February 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
Election Results
- Percent of vote by party in first round - CRC 60.9%, Orange Party 4.3%, independent 30.8%, other 4%
- percent of vote by party in the second round - CRC 54.1%, Orange Party 18.9%, independent 26.1%, other 1%
- seats by party in the first round - CRC 16, Orange Party 1, independent 2
- seats by party in the second round - CRC 4, Orange Party 1;
Note
9 additional seats filled by the 3 island assemblies;
Note
- main opposition parties boycotted election
- composition for elected members as of 2022 - men 20, women 4, percent of women 16.7%
- Judicial Branch:
- Highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr
- eme (consists of 7 judges) Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Cour
- t judges - selection and term of office NA Subordinate courts: Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de premiere instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts
- Regions or States:
3 islands Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Moheli (Mwali)
- Political Parties and Leaders:
- Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assoumani]
- Juwa Party (Parti Juwa) or PJ [Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed SAMBI]
- Orange Party [Mohamed DAOUDOU]
- Note: only parties with seats in the Assembly of the Union included (2020)
- Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship Criteria:
- No Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent
- No Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Capital & time
- Capital Name
Moroni
- Capital - geographic coordinate
11 42 S, 43 14 E
- Capital Time Difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
International role
- International Organization Participation:
ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
- International Law Organization Participation:
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- Diplomatic Representation from US:
Embassy
The US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the US Ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
- Diplomatic Representation in the US:
Chief of Mission
Ambassador Issimail CHANFI (since 23 December 2020)
Chancery
Permanent Mission to the UN, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 495, New York, NY 10017
Telephone
[1] (212) 750-1637
FAX
[1] (212) 750-1657
Email address and website
- comoros@un.int
- https://www.un.int/comoros/