Moroni, Comoros

File:Moroni-Place des Assemblées.jpg

The early history of Moroni is uncertain. The earliest written evidence for settlement in the Comoros Islands comes no earlier than the 7th century, possibly by Arab navigations and Bantu-speaking agriculturalists,Crowther, et al. "Coastal Subsistence, Maritime Trade, and the Colonization of Small Offshore Islands in Eastern African Prehistory." Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 11:211–237, 2016 while ceramic finds from the 7th to 10th century demonstrate that the Islands were part of the developing Swahili civilization,Fleisher, Jeremy, et al. "Ceramics and the Early Swahili: Deconstructing the Early Tana Tradition." African Archaeology Review (2011) 28:245–278Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Moroni-Comoros Moroni], britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019 but when Moroni itself was first settled is not known.

By the middle of the second millennium, however, Moroni was a well-established town, engaged in trade networks throughout the Indian Ocean, and the Badjanani mosque, built in 1427, is a testament to the city's wealth, contemporary with the golden ages of other Swahili cities.Ouledi, Ahmed, and Mahmoud Ibrahime. 2007. Les Comores Au Jour Le Jour: Chronologie. Moroni: Komedit. Together with neighbouring port and royal capital Ikoni, Moroni was one of two centres of economic and political power of the kingdom of Bambao. Nevertheless, until the end of the nineteenth century, it was just one of many large towns on the island, and it wasn't until the Sultan of Bambao, Said Ali ibn Said Omar, negotiated a treaty of Protectorate with France in 1886 that his town became the seat of the colonial administration.Vérin, Pierre. 1994. Les Comores. Paris: Karthala.

Moroni grew slowly through the twentieth century for, although it was now the capital of Ngazidja, it was not the seat of the territorial administration, which was located at Dzaoudzi on Mayotte, and in 1958 its population was still only 6,545.Maximy, René de. 1968. "Moroni, capitale des Comores." Madagascar Revue de Géographie 12: 59-80. However, in that same year the decision was taken to move the capital of the archipelago from Dzaoudzi to Moroni, and the town slowly grew to become the largest in the country.

An agreement on broad autonomy to the three islands was refused by the Anjouan representatives which resulted in an eruption of violence affecting Moroni in April 1999,{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} during which Colonel Azali Assoumani assumed power in a coup d'état. In December 2003, the Moroni Agreement on Transition Agreements was signed by the island presidents of the Union of Comoros.{{cite book|title=Union of the Comoros: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2-khG2id8HsC&pg=PA19|year=2009|publisher=International Monetary Fund|page=19| isbn=9781451809077 }} In the run-up to the 2006 elections, the government-owned Radio Ngazidja and private station Moroni FM were raided by armed assailants and forced off the air temporarily.{{sfn|Karlekar|Marchant|2008|p=106}} In 2010, the U.S. Navy's Seabees constructed Hamramba School in Moroni as a humanitarian project, in partnership with the local military and Comoros' federal government; construction methods included mixing concrete by hand before using buckets and wheelbarrows to move the concrete to the school site.{{cite web|last=Morris|first=Gregg|title=Hamramba School Opens in Moroni, Comoros Islands|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=54396|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007002307/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=54396|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2013|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=5 October 2013|date=June 30, 2010}}

File:Moroni beach.jpg

The city is on the western coast of Ngazidja. Moroni has a rocky volcanic coastline, mostly without beaches. Settlements to the north of Moroni include Itsandra, Ntsoudjini, Ouellah, Bahani, Batsa, Vanambouani and Vanadjou, and to the south are Ikoni, Mvouni, Daoueni and Selea.

File:Moroni Mosque Photo by Sascha Grabow.jpg

File:Friday Mosk.jpg

The historic town centre, the Medina, contains a maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings but is poorly maintained. The old city centre is similar to but smaller than the old town of Lamu. There are many mosques, notably the Badjanani Mosque or Ancienne Mosquée de Vendredi (old Friday mosque), which is the oldest mosque in the Medina.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/comoros/sights/waterfront/arab-quarter#ixzz2gdwI3FCO|title=Lonely Planet review for Arab Quarter|access-date=3 October 2013|publisher=Lonely Planet}} It was originally built in 1427, and a minaret was added in 1921.{{cite book|author=Michael Hodd|title=East African Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bL8tAQAAIAAJ|year=1994|publisher=Trade & Travel Publications|isbn=978-0-8442-8983-0|page=686}} The 300-seat theatre of the Alliance Franco-Comorienne serves as a venue for national and international performances, ceremonies, conferences, film screenings, and seminars. Other venues include the 700-seat Al-Kamar, the 500-seat Palais du Peuple, and the 300-seat Foyer des Jeunes de Foumbouni.{{sfn|Rubin|1999|p=77}}

Moroni has a few hotels and nightclubs. The nearby Karthala volcano is also an attraction for hiking when the volcano is dormant.

Moroni features a tropical rainforest climate (Af), with generally heavy precipitation throughout the year—only October sees on average less than {{convert|100|mm|0|abbr=on}} of rain (roughly {{convert|98|mm|1|abbr=on}}). The average annual rainfall is {{convert|2700|mm}} and it rains during all months of the year. The monsoon season lasts from November to April. Humidity is in the range of 69 to 79 per cent. Moroni's average temperatures throughout the year are relatively constant with a high in the range of {{convert|32|-|34|C}} and a low in the range of {{convert|14|-|20|C}}. The region experiences frequent cyclones and as the islands are located more than 10 degrees below the equator in the western part of the Indian Ocean, the climate is generally termed as "maritime tropical".{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

{{Weather Box

| location = Moroni, Comoros

| single line = Y

| metric first = Y

| Jan record high C = 34

| Feb record high C = 34

| Mar record high C = 35

| Apr record high C = 34

| May record high C = 33

| Jun record high C = 32

| Jul record high C = 31

| Aug record high C = 31

| Sep record high C = 31

| Oct record high C = 33

| Nov record high C = 34

| Dec record high C = 36

| year record high C = 36

| Jan high C = 30.4

| Feb high C = 30.4

| Mar high C = 30.8

| Apr high C = 30.4

| May high C = 29.5

| Jun high C = 28.4

| Jul high C = 27.7

| Aug high C = 27.7

| Sep high C = 28.1

| Oct high C = 29.1

| Nov high C = 30.3

| Dec high C = 30.8

| year high C = 29.5

| Jan low C = 23.4

| Feb low C = 23.3

| Mar low C = 23.0

| Apr low C = 22.6

| May low C = 21.2

| Jun low C = 19.6

| Jul low C = 18.8

| Aug low C = 18.4

| Sep low C = 19.0

| Oct low C = 20.3

| Nov low C = 21.6

| Dec low C = 22.6

| year low C = 21.2

| Jan record low C = 20

| Feb record low C = 20

| Mar record low C = 20

| Apr record low C = 20

| May record low C = 17

| Jun record low C = 14

| Jul record low C = 14

| Aug record low C = 14

| Sep record low C = 15

| Oct record low C = 16

| Nov record low C = 18

| Dec record low C = 19

| year record low C = 14

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 364

| Feb rain mm = 293

| Mar rain mm = 279

| Apr rain mm = 316

| May rain mm = 256

| Jun rain mm = 266

| Jul rain mm = 244

| Aug rain mm = 150

| Sep rain mm = 108

| Oct rain mm = 97

| Nov rain mm = 108

| Dec rain mm = 219

| year rain mm = 2700

| Jan rain days = 18

| Feb rain days = 16

| Mar rain days = 18

| Apr rain days = 18

| May rain days = 12

| Jun rain days = 12

| Jul rain days = 12

| Aug rain days = 10

| Sep rain days = 11

| Oct rain days = 12

| Nov rain days = 12

| Dec rain days = 16

| year rain days = 167

| Jan humidity = 79

| Feb humidity = 77

| Mar humidity = 76

| Apr humidity = 74

| May humidity = 69

| Jun humidity = 66

| Jul humidity = 65

| Aug humidity = 65

| Sep humidity = 70

| Oct humidity = 73

| Nov humidity = 69

| Dec humidity = 72

| year humidity = 71

| Jan sun = 187

| Feb sun = 177

| Mar sun = 225

| Apr sun = 192

| May sun = 232

| Jun sun = 231

| Jul sun = 236

| Aug sun = 232

| Sep sun = 221

| Oct sun = 237

| Nov sun = 230

| Dec sun = 212

| year sun = 2612

| source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web | url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/058/c00311.htm | title = World Weather Information Service – Moroni | publisher = World Meteorological Organization | access-date = 14 April 2013}}

| source 2 = BBC weather,{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/921772 | title = Average Conditions - Moroni | publisher = BBC | access-date = 14 April 2013}} Danish Meteorological Institute (sun and relative humidity, 1931–1960){{cite web | last1 = Cappelen | first1 = John | last2 = Jensen | first2 = Jens | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130427173827/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf | archive-date = April 27, 2013 | url = http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf | work = Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931–1960) | title = Comorerne - Ile Moroni | page = 70 | publisher = Danish Meteorological Institute | language = da | access-date = April 14, 2013}}

}}

File:Mount Karthala (11000398163).jpg]]

Moroni is situated at the foot of Mount Karthala, {{convert|10|km|0|abbr=off}} northwest of the volcano's crater. The {{convert|2361|m|0|adj=on}} high active volcano is reported to be one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, with a diameter of about {{convert|1|mi|1|abbr=out}},{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} and erupting approximately every eleven years over the past two hundred years.{{cite news|title=Volcano Stirs on Main Comoros Island|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/14/world/asia/14volcano.html?ref=comoros&_r=0|access-date=5 October 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 14, 2007|agency=REUTERS}} The eruption of 2005 caused displacement of a large number of people due to volcanic ash.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/comoros/|title=Africa ComorosWorld Factbook|access-date=3 October 2013|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}

The volcano which forms the backdrop of Moroni city has numerous bird species including Comoro pigeon, Karthala scops owl, Comoro cuckoo-roller, Comoro drongo, Comoro thrush, Comoro bulbul, Humblot's flycatcher, Comoro cuckoo-shrike, Kirk's white-eye, Karthala white-eye, Comoro brush-warbler, Comoro green sunbird, and Comoro fody.{{sfn|Sinclair|Langrand|2003|p=26}}

{{As of|2011}}, Moroni had a population of about 54,000. Sunni Muslims account for 98%, and there is a minority of Roman Catholics. The official languages of the Comoros are Shikomori (a Bantu language closely related to Swahili), Arabic and French.

== Places of worship ==

File:Mosque in Moroni, Comoros (3923026238).jpg

File:Catholic church in comoros.jpg

Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Muslim mosques. There are also Christian churches and temples : Apostolic Vicariate of the Comoros Archipelago (Catholic Church), Protestant churches, Evangelical Churches.J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 762

Goods produced on the island are vanilla, soft drinks, processed and distilled essential oils, metal and wood products, and processed pozzolana (cement); these are exported from the port. The tourist infrastructure is poorly developed. Financial institutions include Banque Centrale des Comores, Banque de Development des Comores, and Banque pour Industries et le Commerce. {{citation needed|date=October 2015}} There are several markets in Moroni, including the old market and the larger market at Volo Volo in the north of the city.

File:Air Tanzania B737 at Hahaya Airport.jpg]]

File:Grande Comore Harbor Bay Photo by Sascha Grabow.JPG

The country's civil aviation authority, Ministère des Postes et Télécommunications de la Promotion des Nouvelles Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication chargé des Transports et du Tourisme, is located in Moroni, as is the National Agency of Civil Aviation and Meteorology.{{cite web|title=ISO Country Code – KM|url=http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ifim/country_info/PDF/KM.pdf|publisher=FAA|access-date=5 October 2013|date=July 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007053146/http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ifim/country_info/PDF/KM.pdf|archive-date=7 October 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Moroni is served by the Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport, located at Hahaya, about {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} north of the town. However, there are no direct flights to Europe. It is a civilian airport at an elevation of {{Convert|28|m||abbr=on}} and has a paved runway which has dimensions of {{Convert|2900 x 45|m||abbr=}}.{{Cite web|url= http://www.gcmap.com/airport/HAH |title= Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport |access-date=3 October 2013|publisher=Great Circle mapper}} Airlines which operate international flights to this airport are Ethiopian airlines, Air Tanzania, Air Austral and Kenya Airways. However, between the islands, the local airlines, Int'Air Iles and AB Aviation operate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.saflights.co.za/africa-flights/comoros-flights.html|title=Flights to Comoros|access-date=3 October 2013|publisher= Saflights}}

On 30 June 2009, Yemenia Flight 626, en route from Yemen to Moroni, crashed into the Indian Ocean with 153 passengers and crew on board, many from France.{{cite book|author=Thorpe|title=The Pearson Concise General Knowledge Manual 2010|year=2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMIIvR6KXRcC&pg=PT146|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-2766-9|pages=146–|edition=New }}

File:Moroni, Capital of the Comores, Photo by Sascha Grabow.jpg

There is a major harbour though small in size with regular transport to the African mainland and the other islands in the Comoros archipelago, as well as Madagascar and other Indian Ocean islands. The port is a small quay of {{convert|80|m}} with a draught of {{convert|3.5|m}}, and hence is not suitable for large ships to enter as coral reefs pose a threat to safety. It supports a maximum vessel size of {{convert|150|m}}. The channel depth is {{convert|24.4|m}}, with an anchorage depth of {{convert|23.2|m}}, a cargo pier depth of {{convert|4.9|m}} and a terminal depth of {{convert|4.9|m}}.{{cite web|title=Port of Moroni|url=http://www.fleetmon.com/en/ports/Moroni_1359|publisher=Fleetmon|access-date=5 October 2013}} Within the harbour's mini industrial zone, a local container terminal was managed by Gulfcom Port Management SA between 2006 and 2012, after which Bolloré Africa Logistics won the concession and will partner with Cofipri, a Luxembourg investment company.{{cite web|title=Moroni Agency|url=http://www.delmas.com/worldwide-agents/agency-pages/union-of-the-comoros-agency/agency-union-of-the-comoros.asp|publisher=Delmas|access-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007010135/http://www.delmas.com/worldwide-agents/agency-pages/union-of-the-comoros-agency/agency-union-of-the-comoros.asp|archive-date=7 October 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Storage facilities such as warehouses have been established to facilitate imports and exports and also for petroleum storage.{{cite book|title=Peoples of Africa: Burkina Faso-Comoros|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dMcBcoEm8-oC&pg=PA99|year=2001|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7160-8|pages=99–}}

{{Portal bar|Africa}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

Bibliography

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last1=Karlekar|first1=Karin Deutsch|last2=Marchant|first2=Eleanor|title=Freedom of the Press 2007: A Global Survey of Media Independence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ba65SKN2I_UC&pg=PA106|year=2008|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-7425-5582-2}}
• {{cite book|last=Rubin|first=Don|title=The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: The Arab world|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nsqec4PcdmYC&pg=PT77|date=January 1999|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-05932-9}}
• {{cite book|last1= Sinclair |first1=Ian |last2= Langrand |first2=Olivier |title=Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v7orZe55T5EC&pg=PA26|year=2003|publisher=Struik|isbn=978-1-86872-956-2}}

{{refend}}

• {{commons category-inline|Moroni}}

{{Capitals of Arab countries}}

{{List of African capitals}}

{{Comoros cities}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Capitals in Africa

Category:Populated places in Grande Comore