Grande Comore

Autonomous Island of Grande Comore Île Autonome de la Grande Comore Ngazidja
Flag
The Comoros islands. Grande Comore is the westernmost (and largest) island.
Capital and largest city	Moroni
Official languages	Comoriana Arabic French
Government	Autonomous island
• President	Mohamed Abdoulwahab
Area
• Total	1,025 km2 (396 sq mi)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2006 estimate	316,600
• 2003 census	295,700
• Density	300.52/km2 (778.3/sq mi)
Currency	Comorian franc (KMF)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)
• Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+3)
Calling code	+269
Internet TLD	.km
Shingazidja dialect.

Grande Comore (in Swahili: Ngazidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. 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 is Moroni, which is also the national capital. The island is made up of two shield volcanoes, with Mount 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 incorrect form Njazidja.

For several centuries, Grande Comore was divided into a number of sultanates, including Bambao, Itsandra, Mitsamihuli, Mbajini, Hambuu, Washili, Hamahame, Mbwankuu, Mbude and Domba. The sultans were also known as mfaume. In 1886, the ruler of Bambao, Sultan Said 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 on Réunion. In 1908, France annexed the island and the sultanates were abolished. In 1975, Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli declared independence as the nation of Comoros.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 crashed off the coast of Grande Comore on November 23, 1996.

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 point Mohamed Abdoulwahab won the island's presidency.