Country Reports on Terrorism 2008 - Comoros
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Author | Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism |
| Publication Date | 30 April 2009 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2008 - Comoros, 30 April 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/49fac6bc28.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
International terrorism concerns in Comoros focused on Comorian national Fazul Abdullah Mohammed (a.k.a. Harun Fazul), who is suspected of involvement in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. He was believed to have maintained contacts in the Comoros. The Comorian government's security forces had limited resources and training in counterterrorism and maritime security, so the country remained vulnerable to terrorist transit. Comorian police and security forces participated in U.S. antiterrorism assistance programs and cooperated with the Rewards for Justice Program.
Prior to 2008, the attempted secession of the island of Anjouan, and the establishment of hundreds of shell banks there, presented serious money laundering/terrorist financing vulnerabilities in that country. In 2008, Comoros made strides toward building an anti-money laundering/counterterrorist finance (AML/CFT) regime. With assistance, the Union Government brought Anjouan back fully into the Union of the Comoros, and although lacking an AML/CFT law, made use of the tools it does have and began closing down the shell banks. Comoros also reached out internationally for legal and law enforcement assistance to build an effective AML/CFT regime and also to find and capture those responsible for the shell banks that were traced to Europe. Comoros applied for membership and was accepted as an observer to the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group. At year's end, a draft AML law was in the Parliament.
President Sambi, democratically elected in May 2006, reconfirmed Comoros' rejection of terrorism, and with Comoros' religious leaders, publicly rejected religious extremism. President Sambi has sought close partnership with the United States to develop Comoros economically and to create opportunities for the country's youth. He visited Washington in July, and met with the Secretary of State. In September, Foreign Minister Jaffar led a Comoran delegation to the State Department for the second meeting of a "joint committee" to improve bilateral relations, which included counterterrorism cooperation.
