Country Profile: Comoros

This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Union of the Comoros (Udzima wa Komori (Comorian); Union des Comores (French); Jumhuriyat al Qamar al Muttahidah (Arabic)), based on research produced by the Library of Congress. Under Comoros' Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has legal status. 

Country Background

Comoros is a group of islands in Southern Africa. It is located at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique. The capital of Comoros is Moroni. The official languages are Arabic, French, and Shikomoro/Comorian (which is a blend of Swahili and Arabic). The country's population in 2017 was approximately 808,080. Islam is the religion of the state, and over 98% of the population of Comoros is Muslim. Comoros is a member state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Comoros is referred to as a federal presidential republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of Comoros was ratified in 2001, and was most recently amended in 2009. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The state religion of Comoros is Islam. The legal system of Comoros is a mixed legal system influenced by Islamic legal traditions, the French civil code of 1975, and customary laws. 

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has constitutional status in Comoros, and in fact, Islam is the state religion of Comoros. 

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has official jurisdiction of operation in Comoros. While the legal system incorporates French and Islamic laws into a new consolidated code, on the local level, religious courts apply Islamic law in matters relating to personal and social relationships.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

The courts interpret sharīʿa according to the Salafī school of Sunnī Islam, as the vast majority of the Muslim population in Comoros is Salafī.

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

Unofficial Databases

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide. The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].