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'Anjouan' (also known as 'Ndzuwani' or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. The island is located in the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Mutsamudu and its population as of 1991 is about 240,000. The total area of the Island is 424 sq. kilometers.

Contents

Weather

Geography

Culture

History

Politics

Economy

Postage stamps

External links

Weather

The highs on the island range from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius year-round.
The weather is warm and humid from December to April and slightly cooler from May to November.

Geography

Anjouan is part of the Comoros Islands located in the Mozambique Channel.

Culture

African mainlanders, Creoles, Arabs, Malay-Polynesians, Antalotes and Shirazi Persians make up the population of Anjouan. The main religion is Sunni Islam. Although the Island is filled with large numbers of Mosques, religious observance is not as strict as it is in many other countries observing Islam. Alcohol is forbidden on the island. Because of the French influence on the Island much of the Island's cuisine is similar to French food.

History

The first inhabitants of the island were explorers and immigrants from Indonesia and Polynesia. After that people all around the Indian Ocean began to come to Anjouan and the Comoros Islands. In about 1500 the sultanate of Ndzuwani was founded, which took over the entire island. The island came under French protection in 1866.
It was annexed by France in 1912 and the sultanate was crushed. Anjouan joined the Comoros nation when it became independent in 1975.

In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli declared their independence from Comoros. However, the island is now part of the Republic of Comoros. For more detail, see History of Comoros.

Politics

Following Anjouan’s reunification with Comoros in 2002, a new constitution mandated the election of a President of Anjouan along with presidents for the other two islands and a federal president. Mohamed Bacar, who had lead the separatist government since 2001, was elected for a 5-year term as President of Anjouan. His term expired in April 2007, and the president of the assembly became acting president.

Economy

The island uses the common franc as its currency. The economy of the island is dependent on agriculture and related industries. These industries employ over 80% of the work force. The island's main food staple is rice, most of which must be imported. Anjouan is the world's primary exporter of ylang-ylang oil, an ingredient in almost all perfumes.
The new Anjouan laws that have been passed in February 2005 relating to offshore activity have been carefully drawn up to produce a coherent and flexible regulatory framework. Anjouan Corporate Services Ltd was set up under the Anjouan Registered Agent Act and all Anjouan services are fully regulated by the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority.

Postage stamps

See: Postage stamps of Anjouan

External links

★ Official government website.

★ Anjouan.net.