Mohéli

Autonomous Island of Mohéli Île Autonome de Mohéli Mwali
Flag
The Comoros islands. Mohéli is the lowermost shown.
Capital and largest city	Fomboni
Official languages	Comoriana Arabic French
Government	Autonomous island
• President	Mohamed Ali Said
Area
• Total	211 km2 (81 sq mi)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2006 estimate	38,000
• 2003 census	35,400
• Density	122.07/km2 (316.2/sq mi)
Currency	Comorian franc (KMF)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)
• Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+3)
Calling code	+269
Internet TLD	.km
Shimwali dialect.

Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros.

Mohéli is located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is the smallest of the Comoros islands.

Its population, as of 2006^[update], is about 38,000.

Its capital city is Fomboni.

Its main ethnic group, as on the other Comoros islands Grande Comore and Anjouan as well as the French territory Mayotte, is the Comorian ethnic group, a synthesis of Bantu, Arab, Malay and Malagasy culture, and the main religion is Sunni Islam.

Until 1830, Mohéli was part of the Ndzuwani Sultanate, which also controlled the neighbouring island of Anjouan. In 1830, migrants from Madagascar led by Ramanetaka, who later changed his name to Abderemane, took over the island and established the sultanate of Mwali. In 1886, France made the island a protectorate.

Until 1889, Mwali had its own French resident, but the island was then subjugated to the residency of Anjouan. The sultanate was crushed in 1909 when the French annexed the island. French colonial stamps inscribed Mohéli were issued from 1906 to 1912.

In 1975, Mohéli agreed to join the Comoros nation, along with Grande Comore and Anjouan. Political, economic and social turmoil affected Mohéli and the Comoros in general.

On 11 August 1997, Mohéli seceded from the Comoros, a week after Anjouan. Mohéli's secessionist leaders were Said Mohamed Soefu who became President, and Soidri Ahmed, who became Prime Minister.