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Grande Comore | |
|---|---|
Autonomous island | |
| Grande Comore | |
 Satellite imagery of Grande Comore, 2022. | |
.svg) Grande Comore in Comoros | |
| Country | Comoros |
| Capital | Moroni |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Ibrahim Mze Mohamed |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,025 km2 (396 sq mi) |
| Population (2003) | |
• Total | 295,700 |
• Estimate (2015) | 399,919 |
| • Density | 288.5/km2 (747.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 (EAT) |
Grande Comore (French pronunciation:[ɡʁɑ̃dkɔmɔʁ];Swahili:Ngazidja[2]) is an island inComoros off the coast ofAfrica. It is the largest island in the Comoros nation. Most of its population is of the Comorian ethnic group. Its population as of 2006[update] is about 316,600. The island's capital isMoroni, which is also the national capital. The island is made up of twoshield volcanoes, withMount Karthala being the country's highest point at 2,361 m (7,746 ft) 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.
For several centuries,Grande Comore was divided into a number of sultanates, includingBambao,Itsandra, Mitsamihuli, Mbajini, Hambuu, Washili, Hamahame, Mbwankuu, Mbude and Domba. The sultans were also known asmfaume. In 1886, the ruler ofAnjouan,SultanSaid 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 onRéunion. In 1908,France annexed the island and the sultanates were abolished. In 1975, Grande Comore,Anjouan andMohéli declared independence as the nation of Comoros.
On 23 November 1996,Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 was hijacked while in Ethiopian airspace en route fromAddis Ababa toNairobi. TheBoeing 767-260ERcrash-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 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 pointMohamed Abdoulwahab won the island's presidency. The position of the President of Grande Comore was later transferred into the position ofGovernor of Grande Comore.
Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport serves the island.
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Travel guides from Wikivoyage| International | |
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