Grande Comore Harbor Bay Photo by Sascha Grabow

Grande Comore () is an island in Comoros off the coast of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. It is the largest island in the Comoros nation. Most of its population is of the Comorian ethnic group. Its population is about 316,600. The island's capital is Moroni, which is also the national capital. The island is made up of two shield volcanoes, with

Mount Karthala Mount Karthala or Karthola ( ar, القرطالة ''Al Qirṭālah'') is an active volcano and the highest point of the Comoros at above sea level. It is the southernmost and larger of the two shield volcanoes forming Grande Comore island, the ...

being the country's highest point at above sea level. According to the 2009 revision of the constitution of 2002, it is governed by an elected Governor, as are the other islands, with the federal government being much reduced in power. The name Ngazidja is sometimes seen in the now nonstandard form Njazidja.

History

For several centuries, Grande Comore was divided into a number of sultanates, including Bambao,

Itsandra Itsandra was one of the two major sultanates on the island of Grand Comore before the French colonization of the Comoros. It was taken over by the Sultanate of Anjouan Anjouan (; also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani, and historically as Johanna or Hin ...

, Mitsamihuli, Mbajini, Hambuu, Washili, Hamahame, Mbwankuu, Mbude and Domba. The sultans were also known as ''mfaume''. In 1886, the ruler of

Anjouan Anjouan (; also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani, and historically as Johanna or Hinzuan) is an autonomous high island in the Indian Ocean that forms part of the Union of the Comoros. Its chief town is Mutsamudu and, , its population is around 277,500. ...

, Sultan Said Ali bin Said Omar declared a "state of Ngazidja", usurping the other sultanates and accepting a French protectorate over the island. In 1893, Sultan Said Ali was sent into exile on Réunion. In 1908,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

annexed the island and the sultanates were abolished. In 1975, Grande Comore,

and

Mohéli Mohéli , also known as Mwali, is an autonomous island that forms part of the Union of the Comoros. It is the smallest of the three major islands in the country. It is located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa and it is the smallest of ...

declared independence as the nation of Comoros. On 23 November 1996 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 was hijacked while in Ethiopian airspace en route from

Addis Ababa Addis Ababa (; am, አዲስ አበባ, , new flower ; also known as , lit. "natural spring" in Oromo), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is also served as major administrative center of the Oromia Region. In the 2007 census, t ...

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper h ...

. The Boeing 767-260ER crash-landed in the Indian Ocean near Grande Comore after running out of fuel, killing 125 out of the 175 people on board, including 3 of the hijackers. In 1997, the Comoros nation began to fall apart as Anjouan and Moheli seceded. Grande Comore became the only island under federal control. By 2002, however, Grande Comore was reunited with the other islands under the new constitution.

Abdou Soule Elbak In Medicine, abdo is short for abdominal. As a name, notable people called Abdo, Abdou or Abdu include: People A masculine Arabic name, and a nickname for Abdul. The name is also of Syriac origin and is a variant of 'Abdā, meaning 'servant' or ' ...

was elected President of Grande Comore in May 2002. He received only 17% of the vote in the first round, coming in first place, and received 60% of the vote in the runoff. He remained in his post until the July 2007 elections, at which point

Mohamed Abdoulwahab Mohamed Abdoulwahab (also spelled Abdouloihabi) (born 31 December 1959) has been president of the autonomous island of Grande Comore in the Comoros since 30 June 2007. A lawyer and veteran politician, he held several posts in previous national g ...

won the island's presidency.

Transport

Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport (french: Aéroport international Moroni Prince Saïd Ibrahim, ar, مطار الأمير سعيد إبراهيم الدولي, AIMPSI) is an international airport serving Moroni in Comoros. It is named ...

serves the island.

References

External links

Comoros Island election information
{{Coord, 11, 35, S, 43, 20, E, region:KM_type:adm1st, display=title Comoros archipelago Autonomous islands of the Comoros