Safe feelings in the Comoros

Capt. Joe Blubaugh

Combine Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa Combat Camera Officer in Charge

GRANDE COMORE, Comoros (September 15, 2010) – I just completed my first full day in the

Comoros, an island nation located in the Indian Ocean north of Madagascar. My overwhelming memory

of the day is just how beautiful this tiny nation is. Most of the villages are located along the coast, while

the interior of the island is dominated by large mountains and a recently active volcano disappears into

the clouds.

I was also struck by how friendly the people of Comoros are. This predominately Muslim nation

of less than one million people is a model of moderate Islamic principles. Despite the fact that there

have been more than 20 coups (or attempted coups) since Comoros gained its independence from

France in 1975, I never once felt unsafe around the wonderful people who live here.

In village after village, we were warmly greeted by Comorians. Their smiles were genuine and

their admiration for the members of the Maritime Civil Affairs Team (MCAT) deployed here was obvious.

In many cases, the children were unsure about us. They were curious, but would only watch us from a

distance. However, a camera is a wonderful icebreaker and the kids loved to see the pictures I had

taken of them on my camera.

We toured several schools as the MCAT members assessed potential small renovation projects.

I was struck by just how primitive Comoros is. Few schools had electricity and none had running water.

Bathrooms were outhouse style, if there was a bathroom at all. Many of the roofs leaked and one had

just a dirt floor.

We also had the opportunity to visit a new 12-room school in the village of Nioumamilima that

was built by the United States and opened last year. The $237,000 project included two large buildings

with classrooms, bathrooms and administrative offices, and a wall around the grounds to keep the

children secure.
 I had the opportunity to meet with the headmistress of the school. She was very appreciative of

the donation from the U.S. She said having a new school encourages the 400 students to attend classes,

therefore receiving a more robust education.

When I asked her if there were any challenges the school was facing, she was quick to inform

me that the school only had four teachers. That is one teacher for every 100 students! She said 13

teachers are assigned to the school, but they are paid very inconsistently by the Comorian government.

Furthermore, the majority of the assigned teachers lived on one of the other two islands that make up

the Union of the Comoros and, due to the inconsistent pay, it was very difficult for them to move their

families to Grande Comore.

Therein lies, arguably, the number one problem facing Comorians – an extremely high

unemployment rate of 20 percent, according to official estimates. There are not enough jobs, especially

outside of the capitol of Moroni. To further complicate matters, Comoros is experiencing a population

boom. One member of the MCAT estimated the population under age 30 was at least 50 percent of the

total population. I was shocked to learn that the largest “industry” contributing to the Comorian

economy is actually expatriates who are working abroad and sending money back to the impoverished

nation.

Unfortunately, unemployment and poverty in other Islamic nations like Somalia and Afghanistan

have provided the breeding ground for the spread of radical extremism. Nothing I saw today leads me

to believe Comoros is heading in that direction. However, the potential is a motivating factor to

continue the efforts the U.S. is developing on this island paradise.