aval infantry), Air Force,
National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,872,965 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,959,357
(2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 174,308
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $118.6 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY98/99)

Transnational Issues Cameroon

Disputes - international: oral arguments on the land and maritime
boundary disputes between Cameroon and Nigeria were presented to the ICJ;
disputes center around Bakasi Peninsula, where armed clashes continue,
Bouram Island on Lake Chad, and the maritime boundary and economic zone
dispute in the Gulf of Guinea, which also involves Equatorial Guinea;
Lake Chad Basin Commission urges signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger,
and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lake region, the site of
continuing armed clashes

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Comoros

Introduction

Comoros

Background: Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups
since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of
Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In 1999,
military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He has pledged to resolve the
secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000
Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution
and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002.

Geography Comoros

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel,
about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern
Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 2,170 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 340 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to
low hills

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point:
Le Kartala 2,360 m

Natural resources