COMOROS

The Union of the Comoros, and until 2002 known as the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros, is an island country in the Indian Ocean. The country consists of the four islands in the volcanic Comoros archipelago: Ngazidja, Mwali, Nzwani, and Mahoré. However, the government of the Union of the Comoros has never administered the island of Mayotte, which France considers an overseas community under its own administration. Since Mayotte was the only island in the archipelago that voted against independence from France, and France has vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that would affirm Comorian sovereignty over Mayotte, control was never passed to the Comoros, but its government maintains claim to the island. The country's territory also encompasses many smaller islands.
The Comoros is notable for its diverse culture and history, as a nation formed at the crossroads of many civilizations. The Comoros is the third smallest African nation by area, and one of the smallest in the world, and with a population estimated at 798,000 it is also the sixth smallest African nation by population (though it consequently has one of the highest population densities in Africa).