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{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type    = Autonomous island
| name               = Anjouan
| official_name      = Autonomous Island of Anjouan{{small|<ref>Translation of the French name. {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.gouvernorat-anjouan.com Site officiel du Gouvernorat de l'île autonome d'Anjouan] (Official site of the Governorate of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan)</ref>}}
| native_name        = {{lang|sw|Nzwani}} <br/>{{lang|fr|Île Autonome d'Anjouan}}{{small|<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.gouvernorat-anjouan.com Site Officiel du Gouvernorat de l'Île Autonome d'Anjouan] (Official Site of the Governorate of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan).</ref><ref name="Anjouan.net">[http://www.anjouan.net/en_officiel.htm Anjouan.net — Official]</ref>}}<br/>{{lang|swb|Ndzuwani}}<br/>
{{lang|ar|جزيرة أنزون المتمتعة بالحكم الذاتي}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Anjouan (official).svg
| image_coat         = 
| image_map          = Anjouan in Comoros.png
| map_caption        = Anjouan is the easternmost island of the [[Comoros]] islands
| coordinates        = {{Coord|12|12|54|S|44|25|30|E|type:isle|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Comoros
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Mutsamudu]]
| government_type    = [[Autonomous administrative division|Autonomous Island]] within a [[presidential republic]]
| leader_title       = [[Governor of Anjouan|Governor]]
| leader_name        = [[Zaidou Youssouf]]
| area_rank          = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 424
| area_water_percent = negligible
| elevation_m        = 1,595
| elevation_max_point = [[Mont Ntringui]]
| population_total   = 360,409
| population_as_of   = 2018
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_rank = 
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_estimate_rank = 
| timezone           = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
| utc_offset         = +03:00
| image_map1         = Nzwani in Comoros (claims hatched).svg
| map_caption1       = Anjouan in the Comoros
}}
'''Anjouan''' ({{IPA|fr|ɑ̃.ʒu.ɑ̃|}}) is an autonomous [[volcanic island]] in the [[Comoro Islands]] in the southwestern [[Indian Ocean]], part of the [[Comoros|Union of the Comoros]]. It is known in [[Comorian languages|Shikomori]] as '''Ndzuani''', '''Ndzuwani''' or '''Nzwani''', and, until the early twentieth century when the name fell out of general use (although still sometimes used by English-speakers in Zanzibar), in English as '''Johanna'''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stevens|first=Kenneth|date=Winter 1986|title=Of Whaling Ships and Kings: The Johanna Bombardment of 1851|journal=Prologue|volume=18|pages=241–249}}</ref> Historically it was also called '''Hinzuan''' or '''Hanzoan'''.

[[File:Mutsamudu.jpg|thumb|The town of Mutsamudu]]
Its chief town is [[Mutsamudu]] and, {{as of|2006|lc=y}}, its population is around 277,500. The total area of the island is 424 square kilometers (163 square miles).

==History==
{{see also|History of Comoros}}

===Early and colonial history===
[[File:Map of Anjouan,Comoros (1748) Jacques Nicolas Bellin.png|thumb|Map of Anjouan (1748) by French hydrographer [[Jacques Nicolas Bellin]].]]
[[File:Residentur-France inAnjouan 1930.jpg|thumb|French Residency in Anjouan, 1900]]
The first inhabitants of the island were [[Bantu people|Bantu-speaking ]] peoples from eastern Africa and navigators from [[Indonesia]] and [[Southwest Asia]]. In the late fifteenth century high status [[Hadhrami people|Hadrami]] Arab immigrants married into the local ruling classes and established a sultanate that extended its control over the entire island and occasionally extending their influence to the neighboring island of [[Mwali]] and [[Mayotte]]. In 1812, Sultan [[Alawi bin Husain]] requested British assistance against [[Malagasy people|Malagasy]] slavers who were threatening his domain, which was turned down. Nevertheless, the island remained within the British sphere of influence until the late 19th century. In 1886 [[France]], already present in Mayotte, established a protectorate over the island; slavery was [[Abolition of slavery timeline|abolished]] in 1899, and in 1912, following the forced abdication of the last sultan, France formally annexed the island.<ref>Walker, Iain. "Islands in a Cosmopolitan Sea: A History of the Comoros." Hurst Publishers. 2019.</ref>

[[John Mucknell]] marooned his enemies on Anjouan in 1644.<ref>{{cite book| last =Rawlinson| first = H.G. | title =British beginnings in western India, 1579-1657: an account of the early days of the British factory of Surat | year = 1920 | url =https://archive.org/details/britishbeginning00rawluoft}}</ref> His ship, the ''John'', was owned by the [[East India Company]], but after ridding himself of opposition in this manner, he turned pirate and returned to Britain.

===Anjouan under independent Comoros===
Anjouan joined the [[State of Comoros]] when it became independent in 1975, with Ahmed Abdallah as president of the State of Comoros. The island, being a part of the country, has gone through more than 20 coups since independence and has experienced several attempts at secession.

{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}

===Secessionist/Autonomous Anjouan===
In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and [[Mohéli]] seceded from the Comoros. On 3 August 1997, Anjouan declared itself the independent '''State of Anjouan''' (''État d’Anjouan'')<ref name="1998 Constitution">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20210214155334/http://www.comores-online.com/mwezinet/politique/institutions/etatdanjouan.htm ''Constitution de l'État d’Anjouan''.]}} (Constitution of the State of Anjouan.) {{in lang|fr}}</ref> with Foundi Abdallah Ibrahim as president. An [[Anjouan independence referendum, 1997|independence referendum]] was subsequently held in October, with over 99% voting in favour. The island then asked to be integrated again into the French Republic; but France refused. A constitution was adopted for Anjouan in a referendum on 25 February 1998.<ref name="1998 Constitution"/>

In 1999, Anjouan had internal conflicts and on 1 August of that year, the 80-year-old Foundi Abdallah Ibrahim resigned, transferring power to a national coordinator, [[Said Abeid]]. The government was overthrown in a coup by army and navy officers on 9 August 2001. [[Mohamed Bacar]] soon rose to leadership of the [[Military dictatorship|junta]] that took over and by the end of the month he was the leader of the country. Despite two coup attempts in the following three months, including one by Abeid, Bacar's government remained in power and was apparently more willing to negotiate with Comoros.

After the creation of the Union, the islands were reunified with Comoros in 2002 and a new [[Union of the Comoros]] constitution mandated the election of a [[President of Anjouan]] along with presidents for the other two autonomous islands and a President of the Union. Bacar was elected for a 5-year term as President of the island of Anjouan. His term expired on 14 April 2007 and the president of the assembly, Houmadi Caambi, became acting president from 15 April until he was overthrown by forces loyal to Bacar on 10 May.

Peace talks were held between the Comorian and Anjouan governments whereby they agreed to hold free elections in which Mohamed Bacar would stand. Although the Union government delayed the election - citing alleged irregularities and intimidation — Bacar unilaterally printed ballots and held an illegal election in June. The result, due to electoral fraud, was an overwhelming victory of 90 percent.<ref>{{cite web
 | title = COMOROS: Military invasion of Anjouan imminent, government warns
 | publisher = IRIN
 | date = 2008-01-31
 | url = http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=76514
 | access-date = 2008-03-25| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080331084318/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=76514| archive-date= 31 March 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> In July 2007, he once again declared the island of Anjouan to be independent of the Comoros.

=== 2008 invasion of Anjouan ===
{{main|2008 invasion of Anjouan}}
[[File:anjouan-invasion-2008.png|thumb|upright|Map of the 2008 invasion of Anjouan by Comoran and African Union troops]]
In February 2008, the Comoros rejected the [[African Union]]'s extended sanctions against Anjouan and instead opted for a military solution. In early March, the Comoros armed forces and around 400 international reinforcements from the [[African Union]] assembled on the island of [[Mohéli]]. Hostilities began on 11 March 2008, when Comorian forces staged an armed incursion on the island but diplomacy continued with an intervention by [[South African President]] [[Thabo Mbeki]] who attempted to delay the planned invasion to the distinct displeasure of the Comorian government.<ref name=ComorosAngerBBC20080320>{{cite news
 | title = Comoros anger over chopper crash
 | work = BBC News
 | date = 20 March 2008
 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7306986.stm
 | access-date = 25 March 2008
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080323180728/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7306986.stm
 | archive-date= 23 March 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
There were further incursions between 14 March and 16 March 2008 and clashes between local forces loyal to Mohamed Bacar and, presumably, those from the African Union invasion force which then retreated back to Mohéli.

On 19 March 2008, a French military helicopter on a [[Clandestine operation|clandestine mission]] from French-administered [[Mayotte]] crashed in the [[Mozambique Channel]] close to the city of [[Sima, Comoros|Sima]] on Anjouan. Critics of the action allege the helicopter was involved in an attempt to bring Bacar into French exile, and that Bacar was able to hold out so long only because he was protected by the French.<ref name=ComorosAngerBBC20080320 />

The main operation and, ultimately, the invasion of Anjouan began on the evening of 24 March 2008 when five boats transporting approximately 1,500 soldiers had left Mohéli on their way to Anjouan. In the early hours of 25 March 2008, an amphibious landing was made by Comoran troops supported by contingents from the African Union. The combined forces quickly advanced on the town of [[Ouani]] to secure the airfield. After the airport was secured the invasion force apparently split where part of it headed south-west to engage Anjouanais loyalists in the capital, Mutsamudu, and the remainder headed south-east capturing the port of Bambao M'Sanga and the second city of Domoni without resistance.

Mohamed Bacar managed to escape to Mayotte by 26 March to seek political asylum. He was subsequently held in custody there by the French administration and brought to the island of [[Réunion]], where he was charged for entering French territory illegally and possession of weapons. On 15 May 2008, France rejected Bacar's request for asylum but the French refugee office ruled that the ousted leader could not be [[Extradition|extradited]] to Comoros because of the risk of [[persecution]]. France's State Secretary for Overseas, [[Yves Jégo]], said France would support the Comoran government's efforts. "We will continue to act in consultation with the Comoros so that the law can be applied and Colonel Bacar can be tried."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7402921.stm|title=Comoran rebel asylum plea refused|date=2008-05-15|access-date=2017-09-17|language=en-GB|website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

===Post-invasion Anjouan===
Following the March [[2008 invasion of Anjouan]], the interim president of Anjouan was Laili Zamane Abdou<ref name="Anjouan.net"/> In May 2008, The Constitutional Court of the Comoros approved five candidates to contest the [[Anjouan presidential election, 2008|Anjouan presidential election]] of 15 June and invalidated the candidacy of Mohamed Bacar.<ref>[http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/africa-news/five-candidates-vie-for-the-presidency-of-anjouan-200805214364.html "Five candidates vie for the presidency of Anjouan."] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120802172646/http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/africa-news/five-candidates-vie-for-the-presidency-of-anjouan-200805214364.html |date=2012-08-02 }} Afrique en ligne. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.</ref> Comoran President [[Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi|A.A. Sambi]] supported engineer [[Moussa Toybou]] for the position who won a bare plurality in the initial balloting. In the second round of the elections held on 29 June, he was contested by political veteran [[Mohamed Djaanfari]] but won with 52% of the vote. The Presidency of Anjouan was later transformed into the position of [[Governor of Anjouan]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Le Dar Nadjah N°00 du 16 au 22 Décembre 2013 |url=http://gouvernorat-anjouan.com/index.php/le-dar-nadjah/557-le-dar-nadjah-n-00-du-16-au-22-decembre-2013 |date=2 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702145402/http://gouvernorat-anjouan.com/index.php/le-dar-nadjah/557-le-dar-nadjah-n-00-du-16-au-22-decembre-2013 |archive-date=2016-07-02 }}</ref> 

== Flags ==
{{Main|Flag of Anjouan}}

==Geography==
[[File:Anjouan topographic map-en.svg|thumb|400px|Map of Anjouan]]
[[File:Ndzuwani S2 2022.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Satellite imagery of Anjouan, 2022]]
Anjouan is part of the [[Comoros Islands]] located in the Mozambique Channel. It consists of the eroded remains of a large [[shield volcano]] that formed in the [[Pleistocene]] epoch. Eruptions from [[fissure vent]]s spanned in three directions, followed by a long interval of erosion. Renewed [[volcanism]] produced a series of lava flows that filled deep valleys and flooded areas along the coast.<ref>{{cite gvp|vn=233801|title=Anjouan Island|access-date=2018-12-04}}</ref> The island is known for its steep, mountainous terrain and black sand beaches. [[Mount Ntringui]] is the highest point in the island of Anjouan with an elevation of {{convert|1595|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. The second most important (and the most populous) city on Anjouan is [[Domoni]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} The main strategic area is the airfield at [[Ouani]], with its 1.5&nbsp;km runway, and the bay with the coastal road from the chief town [[Mutsamudu]] in the east out to the city of [[Sima, Comoros|Sima]] in the west.

===Climate===
The highs on the island range from {{convert|27|to|32|C|F}} year-round. The weather is warm and humid from December to April and slightly cooler from May to November. The climate is generally much cooler in the center of the island, on the highest mountains, and generally warmer in the North-Eastern region, North of [[Domoni]].

==Flora and fauna==
{{main|Comoros forests}}
Anjouan is home to a diversity of plant life, much of which is edible. The island is abundant in [[cassava]], [[bananas]], [[mangoes]], [[soursop]], [[avocados]], [[Orange (fruit)|oranges]], [[taro]], and [[vanilla]].

The [[Anjouan scops owl]] is a rare owl. The [[Anjouan sparrowhawk]] is a possibly extinct subspecies of the [[Frances's goshawk]]. [[Lemurs]] are commonly found in the mountainous regions of the island. Two species of lizards, ''[[Flexiseps|Flexiseps johannae]]'' and ''[[Paroedura sanctijohannis]]'', are named after the island, and are found on the island and elsewhere in the Comoros.<ref>Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. ("Johanna", p. 135; "St. Johann", p. 254).</ref><ref>"''Flexiseps johannae'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.</ref>

===Important Bird Area===
A 6,850&nbsp;ha tract encompassing the highlands of the island has been designated an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]] because it supports populations of [[Comoro olive pigeon]]s, [[Comoro blue pigeon]]s, [[Anjouan scops owl]]s, [[Malagasy harrier]]s, [[Madagascar brush warbler]]s, [[Comoro thrush]]es, [[Anjouan sunbird]]s and [[red-headed fody|red-headed fodies]].<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ndzuani-highlands-iba-comoros|title= Ndzuani highlands|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2 March 2021}}</ref>

===Protected areas===
[[Mount Ntringui National Park]] was established in 2010, and covers an area of 79.14&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> in the center of the island.<ref>UNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Parc National Mont Ntringui from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 30 August 2021. [https://www.protectedplanet.net/555576147]</ref> The park includes Mount Ntringui and Mount Trindrini, Anjouan's highest and second-highest peaks, as well as Lake Dzialandzé, Anjouan's largest lake, and the Moya Forest, Anjouan's largest remaining forest.<ref>Parcs nationaux des Comores (2017). ''Plan d’Aménagement et de Gestion du Parc national Mont Ntringui. 2017-2021''. 94 p + annexes 84 p.</ref>

Shisiwani National Park is a marine national park, which protects the coastal waters, including coral reefs, around the Sima Peninsula. It was established in 2010, and has an area of 64.97&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>UNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Parc National Shisiwani from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 31 August 2021. [https://www.protectedplanet.net/555576146]</ref>

==Culture==
[[Image:Teacher prescolair 2.jpg|thumb|Teaching Arabic in a prescolair class. Though students speak Shikomori, they commonly learn Arabic and French in the classroom.]]
Anjouan is the island with the highest population density in Comoros. The main religion is [[Sunni Islam]]. Although the island is filled with large numbers of mosques, religious observance is not as strict as it is in many other countries observing Islam. 
The Comoros national state-owned TV station broadcasts locally.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov regional government]</ref> Anjouan also operates its own radio station.

===Language===
The people of Anjouan speak [[Shindzuani]], a dialect of [[Shikomori]]. Though they have similar grammatical structures and much shared vocabulary, Shindzuani varies greatly from the dialect of the capital island, [[Shingazija]], and [[linguists]] have debated whether they should truly be considered the same language. Public schools and government functions are carried out in [[French language|French]], but in daily life, Shindzuani is spoken almost exclusively. Additionally, many people living on Anjouan are fairly familiar with [[Arabic]] through language classes and the reading on the [[Quran]] from an early age. It is not uncommon for students to attend [[Quranic school]] in addition to their normal schooling.

===Clothing===
Anjouan is known for the wearing of the [[Shiromani]], a sheet-like article of clothing women wrap around their body. The Shiromani is often red, expressing the color of the island of Anjouan.

===Cuisine===
The local cuisine has a great deal of Arab and French influence. Spices such as turmeric, cloves, and cumin are widely used. Meals common to Anjouan include fish with coconut rice, pigeon pea stew, cooked taro dishes, and cassava dishes. The cassava leaves are eaten just as commonly as the roots, cooked with coconut milk and often paired with rice as the dish "Mataba". Hot peppers are also common in the form of a hot sauce called "putu", which is prepared by grinding fresh peppers together on stone. Spice level and general flavor of putu greatly depending on family and region.

Different regions of Anjouan are known for producing different crops, with clove trees filling the Northeast corner of the island and the central mountainous region being rich with lychee fruit trees. Bananas, jackfruit, breadfruit, mangoes, papaya, red guava, green guava, a variety of lime, and small oranges are commonly found all over the island. Vanilla is grown by some for selling and exporting, but is not commonly consumed by Comorians themselves.

==Economy==
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[File:KMF Ind10077o.jpg|thumb|150px|right|A Comorian 100 francs coin]] -->The island uses the [[Comorian franc]] as a currency which is printed by the [[Bank of France]] and issued by the central bank of the country, the [[Central Bank of the Comoros]]. Many people on the island farm [[ylang-ylang]], [[vanilla]], and [[cloves]]. The economy of the island is dependent on agriculture and related industries. These industries employ over 80% of the workforce. The island's main food staple is [[rice]], all of which must be imported. Anjouan is the world's primary exporter of [[ylang-ylang]] oil, an ingredient in almost all perfumes.<ref name="Houlder V 2008, p.11">Houlder V, Peel M. Harbours of resentment. [[Financial Times]], December 1, 2008, p.11</ref>

===Banking system===
As part of the Union of the Comoros, the banking system of Anjouan is regulated by the [[Central Bank of the Comoros]], created in 1981. Anjouan, pursuant to the Regulation of Banks and Comparable Establishments of 1999, licensed more than 300 offshore banks. All of the shell banks and other entities are located offshore and have no permanent presence in the Comoros. Anjouan sold the right to issue bank licenses and delegated most of its authority to operate and regulate the offshore business to private, non-Comoran domiciled parties.

In 2002, after Anjouan's reentry into the Union of the Comoros as an autonomous island, Anjouan's Offshore Finance Authority was established to promote the island as a tax haven to attract foreign capital.

In 2005, new laws were passed and all of the banking licenses issued there previous to that date were canceled. Those that could show proper due diligence were reset by the newly rearranged Offshore Finance Authority, monopolized by Anjouan Corporate Institution Limited (ACIL) since 2003, which has claimed the authority as registered agent for all International Business Companies and banking license issuance on the island since that time and authorized directly by the [[Assembly of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan|Legislative Assembly in Anjouan]]. The company claiming to sell licenses previous to 2003 was sued in the London High Court on behalf of the Anjouan Government and lost, The High Court of Justice in London confirmed after seeing all the legal documentation that Anjouan Corporate Institution Limited (ACIL), was legally entitled to operate the offshore business, with full consent of the Anjouan Government. All Banking Licenses were being issued as a Class B Banking License and have terms of one year, which were renewable as long as no complaint had been made against the Bank in violation of anti-money laundering regulations, fraud, or Banking laws.

The Central Bank of Comoros has never commented the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority’s activity. At the same time, on the Central Bank website, in the section "Flash News" from April 4, 2014, it was mentioned: "The Central Bank of Comores recalls that up to date, no license has been delivered for the exercise of financial offshore activities in one of the islands of the Union of the Comoros".<ref>[http://www.banque-comores.km The Central Bank of Comoros]</ref> So the financial licenses issued by "Anjouan’s Offshore Finance Authority" and "Anjouan Corporate Services Limited" were not taken in consideration by the authorities of the Union of Comoros.

It has been told that Anjouan authorities abandoned the development of the offshore financial sector since the summer of 2008 but, based on the orders 001-008 of 2005 of Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Anjouan’s Offshore Finance Authority is yet maintaining the possibility to make a request for the different types of licenses through their website.<ref>[http://www.offshorefinanceauthority.com Anjouan’s Offshore Finance Authority]</ref> Currently there are nominated less than 50 institutions having the active licenses. However, the law creating non-financial offshore companies was legally adopted by the Parliament of Anjouan and non-financial firms registered in Anjouan are recognized legally.<ref>[https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2010/cr10320.pdf "Union of the Comoros: Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism," IMF 2010]</ref>
[[File:Indian Ocean Sunset (9983308503).jpg|thumb|300x300px|Indian Ocean Sunset on Anjouan Island]]

=== Tourism ===

* The citadel of Mutsamudu, the market of the city
* The mausoleum of President [[Ahmed Abdallah]] in Domoni
* [[Mount Ntringui National Park]] which includes the Dzialandze lake and the Mount Ntringui
* The region of Sima where there are many farms of perfume plants which give their nickname to the islands of Comoros.
* The Tratringa waterfalls, at Bambao Mtrouni, and the river of the same name.
* The beach of Moya and the pass of the same name that children ride down on soapboxes.
* The river of Jomani and the Cap Mangeat at the entrance of Domoni.
* The Tratringua waterfall at Ongoni-Marahani
* The wall of Momoni (uhura wa muji) in Domoni

==Government==
===Politics===
[[Anjouan presidential election, 2008|Presidential elections]] were held in Anjouan on 15 June following the [[2008 invasion of Anjouan]] to oust [[Mohamed Bacar]] as [[President of Anjouan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hVxNTELG2eg4HIIeEWRciLnzhDLQ|publisher=[[Agence France-Presse]]|title=Anjouan to elect new leader after rebel ousted|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503224923/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hVxNTELG2eg4HIIeEWRciLnzhDLQ|archive-date=May 3, 2011|date=June 13, 2008|via=[[Internet Archive]]|website=[[Google News]]}}</ref> About 128,000 people were eligible to vote.<ref>[http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=626309 Angola Press<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Mohamed Djaanfari]], a former vice-president of the [[Assembly of the Union of the Comoros]], and [[Moussa Toybou]], a former minister in [[Said Mohamed Djohar]]'s government, advanced to the runoff round held on 29 June. The final official result, as confirmed by the constitutional court on 3 July 2008, declared Toybou the winner with 52.42% of the vote to Djaanfari's 47.58%.

December 20, 2010 Anissi Chamsidine is elected Governor of the island of Anjouan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gouvernorat-anjouan.com|script-title=ja:初めての方でも安心！レンタルフットサルコートの利用術|website=www.gouvernorat-anjouan.com|language=ja|access-date=2017-09-17|archive-date=2016-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715090412/http://www.gouvernorat-anjouan.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He works for a full reconciliation with the Union of Comoros. To show this will, the separatist flag was dropped and replaced by a new flag with the same symbol than that of the Union of Comoros ''(the Moslem crescent and four stars symbolizing the four islands of the archipelago)''. Henceforth the leader of the autonomous island of Anjouan is named Governor instead of President and the Commissioners instead of Ministers.

===Military===
Anjouan invested heavily in its national security under Mohamed Bacar. Main components were the Gendarmerie commanded by Commander Abdou, the younger brother of Bacar. A battalion size militia of approximately 500 backed the Gendarmerie. Since the eviction of Bacar in March 2008, the Anjouanais defence forces are led by the Government of the [[Union of the Comoros]].

==See also==
* [[Postage stamps of Anjouan]]
* [[Akibani]]
* [[Antsahé]]
* [[Assimpao]]
* [[Bada Kouni]]
* [[Bada la Djandza]]
* [[Chaouéni]]
* [[Chironkamba]]
* [[Chiroroni]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Anjouan}}
* [http://www.gouvernorat-anjouan.com/ Official website of the Governorate of Anjouan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715090412/http://www.gouvernorat-anjouan.com/ |date=2016-07-15 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101210081335/http://www.beit-salam.km/ Official website of the Government of Comoros]
* [http://www.anjouan.net/en_default.shtml Anjouan.net] (In English and French)
* [http://www.banque-comores.km/ Official website of the Central Bank of Comoros]

{{Former French colonies}}
{{Autonomous islands of the Comoros}}
{{Comoros cities}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Anjouan| ]]
[[Category:Comoros archipelago]]
[[Category:Former countries in Africa]]
[[Category:Island countries of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Former French colonies]]
[[Category:Former unrecognized countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1997]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 2002]]
[[Category:Autonomous islands of the Comoros]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in the Comoros]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of the Comoros]]
[[Category:Polygenetic shield volcanoes]]
[[Category:Pleistocene shield volcanoes]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of the Comoros]]