Moroni (city)

Moroni (city), capital of Comoros, in the southwestern region of Njazidja (Grande Comore) island, at the northern end of Mozambique Channel (an arm of the Indian Ocean). It is the nation's largest settlement and chief port. Foodstuffs are the main imports, and small quantities of vanilla, cocoa, and coffee are exported. The town is largely Arabic in atmosphere and contains a number of beautiful mosques. Moroni prospered before the 16th century as a port of call for Arab merchants. It came under the French in the 19th century and served as the capital of a French overseas territory from 1947 to 1975, when Comoros achieved independence. Population (2003 estimate) 53,000.