Grande Comore 878457 213791901 2008-05-20T21:05:10Z 212.8.110.239 {{Infobox Country |native_name = {{lang|fr|''Ile Autonome de Grande Comore''}}{{Fact|date=March 2008}}<br/>{{lang|swb|''Ngazidja''}} |conventional_long_name = Autonomous Island of Grande Comore{{Fact|date=March 2008}} |common_name = Mohéli |image_flag = Flag of Grande Comore.svg |image_coat = |image_map = Grande Comore in Comoros.png |national_motto = |national_anthem = |official_languages = [[Comorian language|Comorian]] (Shingadzija dialect), [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[French language|French]] |capital = [[Moroni, Comoros|Moroni]] |largest_city = capital |government_type = Autonomous Island |leader_title1 = [[President]] |leader_name1 = [[Mohamed Abdoulwahab]] |area_rank = |area_magnitude = |area_km2 = 1148 |area_sq_mi = <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |percent_water = negligible |population_estimate = 316,600 |population_estimate_year = 2006 |population_estimate_rank = |population_census = 295,700 |population_census_year = 2003 |population_density_km2 = |population_densitymi³ = <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |population_density_rank = |GDP_PPP_year = |GDP_PPP = |GDP_PPP_rank = |GDP_PPP_per_capita = |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = |HDI_year = |HDI = |HDI_rank = |HDI_category = |sovereignty_type = |sovereignty_note = |established_event1 = |established_date1 = |currency = [[Comorian franc]] |currency_code = KMF |time_zone = [[East Africa Time|EAT]] |utc_offset = +3 |time_zone_DST = not observed |utc_offset_DST = +3 |cctld = [[.km]] |calling_code = 269 |footnotes = }} '''Grande Comore''' (officially called '''Ngazidja''' and also known as '''Ngasidja''') is an island in the [[Indian Ocean]] off the coast of [[Africa]]. It is the largest island in the [[Comoros]] nation. Most of its population is of the Comorian ethnic group. Its population as of 2006 is about 316,600. The island's capital is [[Moroni, Comoros|Moroni]], which is also the national capital. According to the constitution of 2002, it is governed by an elected President, as are the other islands, with the federal government being much reduced in power. For several centuries, Grande Comore was divided into more than a dozen [[sultan]]ates, including Bambao, Itsandra, Mitsamihuli, Bajini, Hambu, Washili, Hamahame, Mbude, Hamvu and LaDombe. The sultans were also known as falmes. In 1886 the ruler of Bambao, Saidi Ali ibn Saidi Omar, united the sultanates of Grande Comore into the state of Njazidja, with the other sultanates maintaining autonomy. That same year, [[France]] established a protectorate over the island. In 1893 Saidi Ali went into exile. In 1911 France annexed the island and the sultanates were abolished. In 1975 Grande Comore federated with [[Anjouan]] and [[Mohéli]] to form the nation of Comoros. 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 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 remains in his post, but new elections are due to be held on Grande Comore and the other islands in July 2007. He remained in his post until the July 2007 elections, at which point [[Mohamed Abdoulwahab]] won the island's presidency. == External links == * [http://www.ngazidja.org/ Official government website] * [http://africanelections.tripod.com/km_2.html Comoros Island Elections Information] <br> {{Autonomous islands of the Comoros}} {{coor title dm|11|35|S|43|20|E|region:KM_type:adm1st}} [[Category:Comoros archipelago]] [[Category:Islands of Comoros]] [[br:Ngazidja]] [[ca:Grande Comore]] [[de:Grande Comore]] [[el:Μεγάλη Κομόρα]] [[es:Gran Comora]] [[eu:Komora Handia]] [[fr:Grande Comore]] [[gl:Gran Comora]] [[ko:그랑드코모르 섬]] [[it:Grande Comore]] [[sw:Ngazija]] [[nl:Grande Comore]] [[ja:グランドコモロ島]] [[pl:Wielki Komor]] [[pt:Grande Comore]] [[zh:大科摩罗岛]]