Grande Comore

Ngazidja, known as Grande Comore (French pronunciation:[ɡʁɑ̃dkɔmɔʁ]; ^[2]) in French, and formerly known in English as Comoro, is an island in Comoros off the coast of Africa. It is the largest island in the Comoros nation. Most of its population is of the Comorian ethnic group. Its population as of 2006 is about 316,600. The island's capital is Moroni, which is also the national capital. The island is made up of two shield volcanoes, with Mount Karthala being the country's highest point at 2,361 m (7,746 ft) above sea level. In line with the 2009 revision of the constitution of 2002, it is governed by an elected governor, as are the other islands, with the federal government being much reduced in power.

For several centuries, Ngazidja was divided into a number of sultanates, including Bambao, Itsandra, Mitsamihuli, Mbadjini, Hambuu, Washili, Hamahame, Mbwankuu, Mbude and Domba. The sultans were also known as mfaume. In 1886, the ruler of Anjouan, SultanSaid Ali bin Said Omar declared a "state of Ngazidja", usurping the other sultanates and accepting a French protectorate over the island. In 1893, Sultan Said Ali was sent into exile on Réunion. In 1910 he abdicated and in 1912 France annexed the island and the sultanate was abolished. In 1975, Ngazidja, Anjouan and Mohéli declared independence as the nation of Comoros.^[3]

On 23 November 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 was hijacked while in Ethiopian airspace en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. The Boeing 767-260ERcrash-landed in the Indian Ocean off the north coast of Ngazidja after running out of fuel, killing 125 out of the 175 people on board, including 3 of the hijackers.

En 1997, la nación de Comoras comenzó a desintegrarse con la secesión de Anjouan y Moheli. Ngazidja se convirtió en la única isla bajo control federal. Sin embargo, en 2002, Ngazidja se reunificó con las demás islas bajo la nueva constitución. Abdou Soule Elbak fue elegido presidente de Ngazidja en mayo de 2002. Obtuvo solo el 17% de los votos en la primera vuelta, quedando en primer lugar, y el 60% en la segunda vuelta. Permaneció en el cargo hasta las elecciones de julio de 2007, cuando Mohamed Abdoulwahab ganó la presidencia de la isla. Posteriormente, el cargo de presidente de Ngazidja se transformó en el de gobernador de Ngazidja .

El Aeropuerto Internacional Príncipe Said Ibrahim da servicio a la isla.

• Asamblea de la Isla Autónoma de Gran Comora

• Información electoral de las Islas Comoras

11°35′S 43°20′E / 11.583°S 43.333°E / -11.583; 43.333