it was ruled nominally under a caliphate. The
Egyptian Ayyubid dynasty ruled there from 1173 to
1229, after which the region passed to the Rasulids.
From 1517 through 1918, the Ottoman Empire
maintained varying degrees of control, especially
in the northwestern section. A boundary
agreement was reached in 1934 between the
northwestern imam-controlled territory, which subsequently
became the Yemen Arab Republic (North
Yemen), and the southeastern British-controlled territory,
which subsequently became the People’s Democratic
Republic of Yemen (South Yemen). Relations
between the two Yemens remained tense and
were marked by conflict throughout the 1970s and
1980s. Reaching an accord, the two officially united
as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. Its 1993 elections
were the first free, multiparty general elections
held in the Arabian Peninsula, and they were
the first in which women participated. In 1994,
after a two-month civil war, a new constitution was
approved.
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Area:
total: 527,968 sq km
Climate:
mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Population:
22,858,238 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Ethnic groups:
predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans
Religions:
Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
Languages:
Arabic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Sanaa
Administrative divisions:
21 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz
National holiday:
Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
ـ[بَحْرُ الرَّمَل]ــــــــ[03 - 11 - 2010, 12:24 م]ـ
All above mentioning countries in addition to Djibouti, Somalia and Comoros form League of Arab States (LAS; also called Arab League)
Founded: 1945
ـ[بَحْرُ الرَّمَل]ــــــــ[03 - 11 - 2010, 12:26 م]ـ
COMOROS
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/cn-lgflag.gif (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/flagtemplate_cn.html)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/newmaps/cn-map.gif (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/maptemplate_cn.html)
Background
The Comoro Islands were known to European navigators
from the 16th century. In 1843 France officially
took possession of Mayotte and in 1886 placed the
other three islands under protection. Subordinated to
Madagascar in 1912, Comoros became an overseas
territory of France in 1947. In 1961 it was granted
autonomy. In 1974 majorities on three of the islands
voted for independence, which was granted in 1975.
The following decade saw several coup attempts,
which culminated in the assassination of the president
in 1989. French intervention permitted multiparty
elections in 1990, but the country remained in
a state of chronic instability. Anjouan and Mohéli seceded
from the Comoros federation in 1997. The
army took control of the government in 1999. A referendum
at the end of 2001 renamed the country
the Union of the Comoros and granted the three main
islands partially autonomous status.
Location:
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Area:
total: 2,235 sq km
Climate:
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Natural resources:
NEGL
Population:
752,438 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Ethnic groups:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Moroni
Administrative divisions:
3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, Moutsamoudou*
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975
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