A History of the Comoros - Couverture souple

Abernathy, Michael

Couverture souple

ISBN 13 : 9798279323227

Editeur : Independently published, 2025

Synopsis

Known by the evocative nicknames the "Perfumed Islands" and the more grim "coup-coup islands," the Comoro archipelago is a nation of stark contrasts. This history delves into the story of a people forged at a global crossroads in the Indian Ocean. From the first seafaring Austronesian and Bantu settlers to the arrival of Shirazi traders who entrenched Islam as the cornerstone of the islands' culture, a unique Swahili-African society emerged. For centuries, the rival "fighting sultans" controlled a vital hub in the Indian Ocean trade network, dealing in spices and slaves while building the stone towns and mosques that still stand today. The narrative explores how this world of dhows and monsoons was irrevocably changed by the arrival of Europeans, who came first as traders and pirates before imposing colonial rule.

The journey from a French colony to a sovereign nation was fraught with division, culminating in a 1975 unilateral declaration of independence that was immediately fractured by the secession of one of its four islands, Mayotte. This book chronicles the tumultuous decades that followed, a period of chronic instability defined by more than twenty coups or attempted coups. It details the radical and chaotic socialist revolution under Ali Soilih and the long, mercenary-backed rule of Ahmed Abdallah, where the infamous French soldier of fortune Bob Denard acted as the de facto ruler. The narrative unpacks the deep-seated inter-island rivalries that led to a crippling secession crisis in the late 1990s, pushing the nation to the brink of total collapse.

In response to this near-disintegration, the Comoros embarked on a remarkable political experiment, creating the Union of the Comoros, a complex new state structure built on a radical devolution of power and an ingenious rotating presidency designed to ensure peace. This history examines the challenges of this unique system and the subsequent political maneuvers that have reshaped it. It moves beyond the headlines of political turmoil to explore the enduring realities of Comorian life: an economy precariously balanced on foreign aid, remittances from a massive diaspora in France, and the volatile prices of vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang. The rich cultural tapestry of the islands is explored in detail, from the vibrant synthesis of African and Arab traditions to the unique social structure that blends Islamic patriarchy with a matrilineal inheritance system.

The book also confronts the profound contemporary challenges that will define the nation's future. It investigates the persistent and tragic dispute over Mayotte, which has created a humanitarian crisis of desperate migrants risking their lives in overloaded fishing boats. It details the formidable environmental threats the islands face, from the active volcano of Mount Karthala to the increasing fury of tropical cyclones and the existential pressures of climate change. From the prehistoric coelacanth fish swimming in its deep coastal waters to the political maneuvering in the presidential palace, this is a comprehensive account of a nation that is too often overlooked—a story of resilience, culture, and the enduring search for stability in a beautiful but troubled paradise.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Independently published
• Date d'édition: 2025
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 13: 9798279323227
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 134
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg