State in Comoros

The Union des Comores combines a national government with three autonomous islands: Ngazidja, also called Grande Comore, Ndzuwani, also called Anjouan, and Mwali, also called Mohéli. Each island has legal personality, a governor and a consultative council and manages its autonomous affairs within the powers granted by the Constitution and laws. Communes are territorial public bodies. The 2011 decentralisation framework assigns public action across the Union, the islands and the communes, but the exact division of responsibilities and resources depends on legislation. The Union retains national sovereign functions, including national unity, foreign relations, defence, border protection, monetary policy and other powers reserved by law. Comoros claims sovereignty over Mayotte, but the Union does not administer it in practice. The Constitution describes Comoros as a democratic republic and recognises Islam as the state religion. It protects fundamental rights, equality, separation of powers and the requirement that public authorities act according to law. The President of the Union represents national unity and sovereignty and performs key institutional functions. As of 2026, that office is held by Azali Assoumani. The Government, ministries and the General Secretariat implement national policy. The Assembly of the Union exercises legislative functions. The Supreme Court, based in Moroni, has judicial, administrative and public-accounts sections. The Moufti of the Republic is the highest state religious authority. Administrative services are delivered through Union ministries, island governorates and communes. The appropriate level depends on the service and the applicable law. A person or company will commonly begin with the responsible ministry and then deal with the relevant island or commune when the matter falls within their competence. The judicial portal provides access to laws, decrees and case law. E-Gouv and the Portail Unique du Citoyen provide digital administrative access where the service is available. Civil-service capacity remains limited, including problems linked to ghost workers, and public authorities are pursuing further digitalisation and performance management. Fees and deadlines depend on the service and legal basis; no single current tariff or deadline schedule applies to all administration. The Comorian franc, abbreviated KMF, is issued and managed by the Banque Centrale des Comores. The central bank controls monetary and exchange policy, supervises banks, issues banknotes and manages reserves. The KMF has a fixed parity with the euro within the France-Comoros monetary cooperation. The Ministry of Finance, Budget and Banking Sector and the General Directorate of Taxes and Domains manage public revenue, taxation and budget processes. The 2023 Loi de Règlement recorded revenue of 105,404,943,045 KMF and expenditure of 107,030,295,682 KMF. Fiscal consolidation and stronger revenue mobilisation are priorities in 2026. The International Monetary Fund assesses the risk to external and public-debt sustainability as high because of low revenue, liquidity shortages, external arrears, limited buffers and dependence on external financing. The Supreme Court's Section of Accounts examines public accounts and may review the finances of the Union, islands and public bodies. It issues reports to the Assembly of the Union. The public-procurement system includes the Regulatory Authority for Public Procurement, known as ARMP, and the National Directorate for Public Procurement Control, known as DNCMP. They handle procurement planning, tenders, contracts, complaints and audits. The Anti-Corruption Chamber, created under the 2023 anti-corruption law and established in May 2024, is developing an asset-declaration framework in 2026. Its effectiveness is affected by capacity and funding risks. No independent general ombudsman or comprehensive general right of access to information has been confirmed in the available sources. The National Council for Press and Audiovisual Media, or CNPA, is an independent administrative authority for press, audiovisual and online media. It addresses pluralism, media access, licensing, frequencies, complaints and journalist protection. The National Agency for Regulation of Information and Communication Technologies, or ANRTIC, is involved in frequency matters. The 2010 information and communication code remains relevant alongside a newer code adopted or being implemented in 2025 and 2026. Government and procurement portals provide some transparency, but they do not replace a comprehensive access-to-information system. The Armée Nationale de Développement, or AND, is the central defence and security force and includes gendarmerie structures. The General Directorate for Police and National Security, known as DGPSN, operates under the Ministry of the Interior and handles internal security, public order, crime prevention, borders and protection of institutions. The National Centre for Maritime Action, or CNAEM, coordinates maritime state functions between the defence and maritime-transport authorities. Defence and other sovereign security functions remain Union responsibilities rather than separate island defence systems. Citizens have constitutional rights to equality, human rights, access to justice and legal defence. Permanent foreign residents hold rights under the Constitution and international law, except for rights reserved to citizens, such as specified political participation. Administrative and judicial challenges can be brought through the competent procedures, with the Supreme Court serving as the main high-level court for administrative and judicial review. Local religious or social mediation may operate alongside formal procedures, but it is not a sovereign legal alternative and cannot replace the authority of the Constitution, legislation or courts.