Published: September 16, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Comoros Travel Advisory and Comoros Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
The nearest U.S. Embassy is in Madagascar.
U.S. Embassy Antananarivo:
Lot 207 A, Point Liberty, Andranoro-Antehiroka, Antananarivo (105).
Tel: +261(20) 33-44-320-00; After-Hours Emergencies: +261(20) 33-44-320-00.
Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 0730-1600; Friday, 730-1330.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
Moroni does not have an active Country Chapter. Contact OSAC’s Africa team with any questions.
Comoros Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise increased caution for travel to Comoros due to crime and civil unrest.
The U.S. embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar has no ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Comoros.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Moroni as being a MEDIUM-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Comoros, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
Over the past year, crime on the islands of Grand Comore, Moheli, and Anjouan, criminal activity has increased. Crimes most frequently reported are petty crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing. Be vigilant, particularly when visiting crowded markets, parks, and beaches. Avoid walking alone, especially after dark, and displaying cash or valuable personal property.
Comoros is particularly vulnerable to transnational trafficking because of long inadequately controlled borders, government corruption, and the presence of international criminal networks. Comoros may be a transit and destination country for Malagasy women and girls and a transit country for East African women and girls exploited in domestic service in the Middle East. Some Comorian children are forced to labor in domestic service, roadside and street vending, baking, fishing, and agriculture. Some Comorian students at Koranic schools are exploited for forced agricultural or domestic labor and are sometimes subject to physical or sexual abuse.
Loose criminal networks are operational in Comoros, according to the Global Organized Crime Index. As the local drug market grows, domestic criminal networks are developing and profiting. Criminal networks focus mainly on human trafficking and child labor, exploiting the desires of families to move their children to Grande Comore. A significant number of people in Comoros, especially fishermen, are employed by human-smuggling networks from Mayotte. Tanzanian actors are predominantly involved in drug trafficking, while vanilla smuggling is suspected to be facilitated by Malagasy nationals.
Be particularly vigilant when traveling through crowded markets, parks, and beaches.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Comoros.
The threat of kidnapping to visitors is low.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Moroni as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Comoros.
There is a potential for youth radicalization due to limited educational and economic opportunities within the country and surrounding areas.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Moroni as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Comoros, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes occur frequently, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond adequately. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Historically, Comoros has experienced numerous coups, as well as occasional strikes and civil unrest, resulting in violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Crowd control typically involves excessive force; during instances of riots and civil unrest, police often respond by firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Protests can often occur with little advanced warning. Anjuan’s population density and perceived lack of political influence in the capital often results in greater support for political unrest or protests than similar events on the other islands. General elections in early 2024 resulted in the reelection of incumbent President Azali Assoumani for a fourth term. Political unrest followed the contested elections, with violent clashes at protests involving gunfire, roadblocks, and infrastructure disruptions resulting in one death and at least 25 injuries. Tensions have since eased. A parliamentary election in January 2025 was boycotted by some opposition parties but went on without violence or disruption.
In September 2024, an individual attempted to assassinate President Azali. The individual was taken into custody where he later died, prompting outcry from opposition members and human rights organizations. Calls for protests in the wake of the subject’s death never materialized but tensions remain.
Elections in Comoros are often contentious issues that see some level of protests and/or voter dissatisfaction. Additionally, the government’s domestic policies and President Azali’s perceived attempt to have his son succeed him by granting him greater authority have drawn the ire of the opposition and been a rallying cry for political and social discontent.
Protests & Demonstrations
Visitors should be aware of political dynamics in the Comoros and remain mindful of the potential for political instability and/or unrest. Avoid demonstrations, large gatherings, and any political rallies, as even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Follow the instructions of local authorities, monitor local news broadcasts, and heed U.S. consular messaging.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
The U.S. Embassy is not aware of any incidents that might indicate anti-U.S./anti-Western sentiment within the last year.
Law Enforcement
The emergency line in Comoros is 111. Report crimes to the local police at 17, or 18 for the Gendarmerie. The police non-emergency line is +269-764-4664. For the Fire Brigade (COSEP), call + 269-773-9288/9002.
There are six separate security forces in Comoros that report to five different authorities. Union government forces in Comoros are the Army of National Development, Gendarmerie, and National Directorate of Territorial Safety, all of which report to the President’s cabinet director for defense. Each of the three islands has a local police force under the authority of its own interior minister. In cities, National Gendarmerie Police maintain peace and security. Outside of major cities, the Comorian Armed Forces are primarily responsible for these duties. The Union government has consolidated all security forces under its authority, including the police force. The police force, now known as the Direction Générale de la Police et de la Sûreté Nationale (DGPSN), or the General Directorate of Police and National Safety, operates under the Ministry of Interior. It no longer reports to the Cabinet Director for Defense but is solely accountable to the Ministry of Interior. Local island police forces and other independent security entities have been integrated into this unified structure.
Corruption is endemic in law enforcement. Police officers are known to collude with criminal networks across a range of markets, actively facilitating criminal activities.
Police Response
Although police/gendarme normally respond to and resolve incidents involving a foreigner quickly, there are reports indicating a failure of law enforcement to respond when called. Due to the lack of resources and equipment, police/gendarmerie responses to local victims of a crime is often limited, slow, or nonexistent. This is primarily due to the lack of staffing, training, and funding. The likelihood of security forces responding to an incident depends on the availability of personnel and resources such as fuel and functional vehicles. U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault should first contact the U.S. Embassy.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Comoros, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Comoros.
The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention and provide for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of arrest or detention in court. The government generally observes these provisions, although there have been some arbitrary arrests. For example, there were multiple press reports of suspects’ wives being held for one or two days to pressure their husbands to turn themselves in. In April 2020, authorities detained singer Cheikh MC for several hours at a gendarmerie facility for disturbing the public order. He had posted on his Facebook page that his wife was suffering from COVID-19 while the government was claiming that there were no cases of COVID-19 in the country.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government does not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engage in corrupt practices with impunity.
The National Commission for Preventing and Fighting Corruption (CNPLC) was an independent administrative authority established to combat corruption, including through education and mobilization of the public. In 2016, the president repealed the provisions of the law that created the commission, citing its failure to produce any results. The Constitutional Court subsequently invalidated this decision, noting that a presidential decree may not overturn a law. Nevertheless, the president has neither renewed the commissioners’ mandates nor appointed replacement members. A new Anti-Corruption Chamber has been established by Presidential Decree and is already operational. The chamber has even participated in training programs supported by the U.S. Department of State. However, concerns remain about its effectiveness and credibility, as visible and ongoing corruption among authorities continues to undermine its mission.
Resident diplomatic, UN, and humanitarian agency personnel reported petty corruption is commonplace at all levels of the civil service and security forces. Businesspersons report corruption and a lack of transparency. Citizens pay bribes to evade customs regulations, to avoid arrest, and to obtain falsified police reports.
Cybersecurity
There are no cybersecurity concerns specific to private-sector operations in Comoros.
Import/Export Restrictions
There are no known restrictions on the use or importation of satellite phones. A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
