Pray for Comoros

In the Union of Comoros, families prepare weddings for their children years in advance. Known as the Grand Marriage, a great multiday wedding brings the nation’s people together. A well-prepared wedding elevates the bride and groom as respected members of society. Relatively isolated from the global economy, the islands are also marked by a calm way of life. Foreign development remains limited, and life continues at a slower pace. Few tourists visit the islands, allowing Comorians to enjoy their land’s beauty in peace.

Glorious weddings and peaceful lifestyles stand in contrast to the nation’s struggles. Since Comoros gained independence from France in 1975, a thirst for power has put the nation through more than 20 coup attempts. The instability left Comoros as one of the poorest countries in Africa. A constitution was ratified in 2001 that distributed power among islands and brought some security. However, in 2018, a referendum put an end to this system. More power was given to the president, and this provided more opportunities for corruption. Almost half of the population is illiterate. Many lack education, face unemployment, and struggle to provide for their families. High population density and climate change place intense pressure on the country’s resources.

The legal system is a mixture of Islamic law, French civil code, and customary law. The constitution technically allows freedom of religion. In practice, religious freedom is largely restricted. 98 percent of the Comorian people are Muslim, though many also practice witchcraft or seek help from spirits. Schools raise children according to Islamic beliefs. Christians face legal pressure and are often treated as social outcasts. Of 900,000 people, believers make up less than one percent of the population and have no official national churches. But God has not forgotten the nation. Foreign medical and veterinary teams have gained public respect and can quietly support the Church’s efforts to reach the lost.