The Comoros, officially the Union of the Comoros /kʰəˈmɔɹəz/ (French Union des Comores /ynjɔ̃ de kɔmɔʀ/, Arabic اتحاد القمر /itːˈħæːd ælˈqɑmɑr/, until 2002 the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros), is a country in the Indian Ocean, situated at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique. The country consists of three of the four main islands in the volcanic Comoros archipelago: Grande Comore, Mohéli and Anjouan. The fourth island in the island group, Mayotte, is not part of the country. Mayotte has voted against independence from France, but is claimed by Comoros. The country's territory also encompasses many smaller islands. Its name was adopted from the word al-qamar, meaning 'of the moon,' as seen depicted on its flag.
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