2019 Edition

Background

The archipelago of the Comoros in the Indian Ocean, composed of the islands of Mayotte, Anjouan, Moheli, and Grande Comore declared independence from France on 6 July 1975. Residents of Mayotte voted to remain in France, and France now has classified it as a department of France. Since independence, Comoros has endured political instability through realized and attempted coups. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI Assoumani seized power of the entire government in a bloodless coup; he initiated the 2000 Fomboni Accords, a power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its local government. AZALI won the 2002 federal presidential election as president of the Union of the Comoros from Grande Comore Island, which held the first four-year term. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed SAMBI was elected to office as president from Anjouan. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union of the Comoros, refusing to step down when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade to Anjouan, but in March 2008 the AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The island's inhabitants generally welcomed the move. In 2009, the Comorian population approved a constitutional referendum extending the term of the president from four years to five years. In May 2011, Ikililou DHOININE won the presidency in peaceful elections widely deemed to be free and fair. In closely contested elections in 2016, former President AZALI Assoumani won a second term, when the rotating presidency returned to Grande Comore. A new constitution was passed in July 2018, which allowed for two consecutive five-year presidential terms and abolished the island specific vice presidents. Under the new constitution, the incumbent president can run for a second term against candidates from the next island in line for the rotation. In August 2018, President AZALI formed a new government and subsequently ran and was elected president in March 2019.

Area

Land

2,235 sq km

Total

2,235 sq km

Water

0 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Coastline

340 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Karthala 2,360 m

Lowest Point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment Current Issues

deforestation; soil degradation and erosion results from forest loss and from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; marine biodiversity affected as soil erosion leads to the silting of coral reefs

Environment International Agreements

Party To

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed But Not Ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic Coordinates

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Geography Note

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Irrigated Land

1.3 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

84.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

46.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

29.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

8.1% (2011 est.)

Forest

1.4% (2011 est.)

Other

14.2% (2011 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Map References

Africa

Maritime Claims

Exclusive Economic Zone

200 nm

Territorial Sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comorevolcanism: Karthala (2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud

Natural Resources

fish

Population Distribution

the capital city of Maroni, located on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, of the three islands that comprise Comoros, it is Anjouan that is the most densely populated

Terrain

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Age Structure

0 14 Years

38.54% (male 157,764 /female 158,676)

15 24 Years

19.89% (male 79,133 /female 84,181)

25 54 Years

33.25% (male 129,645 /female 143,408)

55 64 Years

4.34% (male 15,957 /female 19,690)

65 Years And Over

3.98% (male 14,881 /female 17,829) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

25.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

16.9% (2012)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

19.4% (2012)

Current Health Expenditure

7.6% (2016)

Death Rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Comoros’ population is a melange of Arabs, Persians, Indonesians, Africans, and Indians, and the much smaller number of Europeans that settled on the islands between the 8th and 19th centuries, when they served as a regional trade hub. The Arab and Persian influence is most evident in the islands’ overwhelmingly Muslim majority – about 98% of Comorans are Sunni Muslims. The country is densely populated, averaging nearly 350 people per square mile, although this varies widely among the islands, with Anjouan being the most densely populated.Given the large share of land dedicated to agriculture and Comoros’ growing population, habitable land is becoming increasingly crowded. The combination of increasing population pressure on limited land and resources, widespread poverty, and poor job prospects motivates thousands of Comorans each year to attempt to illegally migrate using small fishing boats to the neighboring island of Mayotte, which is a French territory. The majority of legal Comoran migration to France came after Comoros’ independence from France in 1975, with the flow peaking in the mid-1980s.At least 150,000 to 200,000 people of Comoran citizenship or descent live abroad, mainly in France, where they have gone seeking a better quality of life, job opportunities, higher education (Comoros has no universities), advanced health care, and to finance elaborate traditional wedding ceremonies (aada). Remittances from the diaspora are an economic mainstay, in 2013 representing approximately 25% of Comoros’ GDP and significantly more than the value of its exports of goods and services (only 15% of GDP). Grand Comore, Comoros’ most populous island, is both the primary source of emigrants and the main recipient of remittances. Most remittances are spent on private consumption, but this often goes toward luxury goods and the aada and does not contribute to economic development or poverty reduction. Although the majority of the diaspora is now French-born with more distant ties to Comoros, it is unclear whether they will sustain the current level of remittances.

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

5.1 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

19.7 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

75.5 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

70.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

89.1% of population

Improved Total

90.1% of population

Improved Urban

92.6% of population

Unimproved Rural

10.9% of population

Unimproved Total

9.9% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

7.4% of population

Education Expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2015)

Ethnic Groups

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<100 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

<200 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

47.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

68.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

58.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (official; a blend of Swahili and Arabic) (Comorian)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

67.4 years

Male

62.6 years

Total Population

64.9 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

73.7% (2015)

Male

81.8%

Total Population

77.8%

Major Urban Areas Population

62,000 MORONI (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

273 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

20.8 years

Male

19.5 years

Total

20.2 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

24.6 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Comoran

Noun

Comoran(s)

Net Migration Rate

-2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

7.8% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

821,164 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.57% (2018 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 98%, other (including Shia Muslim, Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant) 2%

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

30.9% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

35.8% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

48.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

69.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

64.2% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

51.7% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

11 years (2014)

Male

11 years

Total

11 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

0.99 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.94 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.9 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.81 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.83 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.94 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3.21 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

2.87% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

29.2% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

3 islands; Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Moheli (Mwali)

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

11 42 S, 43 14 E

Name

Moroni

Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

10 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at three-quarters majority of the total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum (2019)

History

previous 1996, 2001; newest adopted 30 July 2018

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Union of the Comoros

Conventional Short Form

Comoros

Etymology

name derives from the Arabic designation "Juzur al Qamar" meaning "Islands of the Moon"

Local Long Form

Udzima wa Komori (Comorian), Union des Comores (French), Jumhuriyat al Qamar al Muttahidah (Arabic)

Local Short Form

Komori (Comorian), Comores (French), Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the US Ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

Mission to the US, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418, New York, NY 10017

Chief Of Mission

vacant

Fax

[1] (212) 750-1657

Telephone

[1] (212) 750-1637

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Chief Of State

President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - AZALI takes oath of office 2 June 2019 after 24 March 2019 reelection (2019)

Election Results

AZALI Assoumani (CRC) elected president in first round; with a 59% of the vote; - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 60.8%, Ahamada MAHAMOUDOU (PJ) 14.6%, and Mouigni Baraka Said SOILIHI (independent) 5.6%

Elections Appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote in 2 rounds for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 March 2019 (next to be held in 2024)

Head Of Government

President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)

Flag Description

four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a vertical white crescent moon with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, N'gazidja, Ndzuwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - department of France, but claimed by Comoros)

Government Type

federal presidential republic

Independence

6 July 1975 (from France)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 7 judges)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

Supreme Court judges - selection and term of office NA

Subordinate Courts

Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de premiere instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts

Legal System

mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 24 members directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed and 9 members indirectly elected by the 3 island assemblies; members serve 5-year terms) (2017)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - UPDC 29.1%, PJ 20.5%, RDC 21.3%, other 29.1%; seats by party - UPDC 8, PJ 7, RDC 2, CRC 2, RADHI 1, PEC 1, independent 3; composition - men 32, women 1, percent of women 3%; note - 9 additional seats filled by the 3 island assemblies

Elections

last held on 25 January 2015 with a runoff on 22 February 2015 (next to be held in 2020) (2017)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH

Name

"Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

National Symbol S

four five-pointed stars and crescent moon; national colors: green, white

Political Parties And Leaders

Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI Assoumani] Democratic Rally of the Comoros or RDC [Mouigni BARAKA] Juwa Party or PJ [Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI, Mahamoudou AHAMADA] Party for the Comorian Agreement (Partie Pour l'Entente Commorienne) or PEC [Fahmi Said IBRAHIM] Rally for an Alternative of Harmonious and Integrated Development or RADHI [Abdou SOEFO] Rally with a Development Initiative for Enlightened Youth or RIDJA [Said LARIFOU] Union for the Development of the Comoros or UPDC [Mohamed HALIFA] (2018)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc)

Budget

Expenditures

207.3 million (2017 est.)

Revenues

165.2 million (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-6.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2009

2.21%

31 December 2010

1.93%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

10.5%

31 December 2017

10.5%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$45 million

2017

-$27 million

Debt External

31 December 2016

$132 million

31 December 2017

$199.8 million

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2004

55.9

Economy Overview

One of the world's poorest and smallest economies, the Comoros is made up of three islands that are hampered by inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, accounts for about 50% of GDP, employs a majority of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. Export income is heavily reliant on the three main crops of vanilla, cloves, and ylang ylang (perfume essence); and the Comoros' export earnings are easily disrupted by disasters such as fires and extreme weather. Despite agriculture’s importance to the economy, the country imports roughly 70% of its food; rice, the main staple, and other dried vegetables account for more than 25% of imports. Remittances from about 300,000 Comorans contribute about 25% of the country’s GDP. France, Comoros’s colonial power, remains a key trading partner and bilateral donor.Comoros faces an education system in need of upgrades, limited opportunities for private commercial and industrial enterprises, poor health services, limited exports, and a high population growth rate. Recurring political instability, sometimes initiated from outside the country, and an ongoing electricity crisis have inhibited growth. The government, elected in mid-2016, has moved to improve revenue mobilization, reduce expenditures, and improve electricity access, although the public sector wage bill remains one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. In mid-2017, Comoros joined the Southern African Development Community with 15 other regional member states.

Exchange Rates

2013

370.81

2014

443.6

2015

444.76

2016

444.76

2017

458.2

Currency

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$17.9 million

2017

$18.9 million

Exports Commodities

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves

Exports Partners

France 36.5%, India 12.2%, Germany 8.2%, Pakistan 6.3%, Switzerland 5.8%, South Korea 4.7%, Russia 4.3% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

17.2% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

20.4% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

92.6% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-47.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

20% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

-3.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

47.7% (2017 est.)

Industry

11.8% (2017 est.)

Services

40.5% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$652 million (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$1,600

2016

$1,600

2017

$1,600

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$1.257 billion

2016

$1.284 billion

2017

$1.319 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

1%

2016

2.2%

2017

2.7%

Gross National Saving

2015

18% of GDP

2016

13.6% of GDP

2017

17.3% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

55.2% (2004)

Lowest 10

0.9%

Imports

2016

$189.9 million

2017

$207.8 million

Imports Commodities

rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement and construction materials, transport equipment

Imports Partners

UAE 32.8%, France 17.3%, China 13.2%, Madagascar 6.1%, Pakistan 4.5%, India 4.3% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1% (2017 est.)

Industries

fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

1.8%

2017

1%

Labor Force

278,500 (2016 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

80%

Industry

20% (1996 est.)

Industry And Services

20% (1996 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

44.8% (2004 est.)

Public Debt

2016

27.7% of GDP

2017

32.4% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$159.5 million

31 December 2017

$208 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$180.5 million

31 December 2017

$200.8 million

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$183.9 million

31 December 2017

$208.5 million

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$180.5 million

31 December 2017

$200.8 million

Taxes And Other Revenues

25.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2014

6.5%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

193,600 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

72.2% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

77.8% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

92.1% (2016)

Population Without Electricity

200,000 (2017)

Electricity Consumption

39.06 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

27,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

42 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

1,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

1,241 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

less than 1 (2017 est.)

Total

1,644

Broadcast Media

national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by Anjouan regional government; national state-owned radio; regional governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate a radio station; a few independent and small community radio stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV

Internet Country Code

.km

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

7.9% (July 2016 est.)

Total

63,084

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line connections only about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage over 55 per 100 persons; two companies, Comoros Telecom and Telma, provide domestic and international mobile service and wireless data (2018)

General Assessment

sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations; telephone service limited to the islands' few towns (2018)

International

country code - 269; landing point for the EASSy, Avassa, FLY-LION3, and Comoros Domestic Cable System fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting East Africa with Europe; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

2 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

17,212

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

55 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

446,868

Airports

4 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

2 438 To 3 047 M

1 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

3 (2017)

Total

4 (2017)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

D6 (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

bulk carrier 7, container ship 2, general cargo 102, oil tanker 29, other 78 (2018)

Total

218

National Air Transport System

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

9 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

2 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Moroni, Moutsamoudou

Roadways

Paved

673 km (2002)

Total

880 km (2002)

Unpaved

207 km (2002)

Military And Security Forces

National Army for Development (l'Armee Nationale de Developpement, AND): Comoran Security Force (also called Comoran Defense Force (Force Comorienne de Defense, FCD), includes Gendarmerie), Comoran Coast Guard, Comoran Federal Police (2017)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for 2-year voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (2015)

Disputes International

claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces assisted the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001

Trafficking In Persons

Current Situation

Comoros is a source country for children subjected to forced labor and, reportedly, sex trafficking domestically, and women and children are subjected to forced labor in Mayotte; it is possibly a transit and destination country for Malagasy women and girls and a transit country for East African women and girls exploited in domestic service in the Middle East; Comoran children are forced to labor in domestic service, roadside and street vending, baking, fishing, and agriculture; some Comoran students at Koranic schools are exploited for forced agricultural or domestic labor, sometimes being subjected to physical and sexual abuse; Comoros may be particularly vulnerable to transnational trafficking because of inadequate border controls, government corruption, and the presence of international criminal networks

Tier Rating

Tier 3 – Comoros does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and was placed on Tier 3 after being on the Tier 2 Watch List for two consecutive years without making progress; Parliament passed revisions to the penal code in 2014, including anti-trafficking provisions and enforcement guidelines, but these amendments have not yet been passed approved by the President and put into effect; a new child labor law was passed in 2015 prohibiting child trafficking, but existing laws do not criminalize the forced prostitution of adults; authorities did not investigate, prosecute, or convict alleged trafficking offenders, including complicit officials; the government lacked victim identification and care referral procedures, did not assist any victims during 2014, and provided minimal support to NGOs offering victims psychosocial services (2015)