If someone asked you which the world's most unstable country was, what would be your answer? Many would, no doubt, reply that Iraq or Afghanistan are probably the most unstable, with possibly Iran and Pakistan coming in close behind. Or what if you were asked which military invasion was launched on 25 March 2008, what would your answer be? None?
The most unstable nation in the world is Comoros and on 25 March 2008 they were invaded - again. Africa has just had its most recent one day war. Within hours the rebel leader was on the run - and, rumour has it, desperately trying to escape in a dinghy - dressed as a woman.
First, though, where exactly is Comoros? The once French colony is a group of three islands in the Indian Ocean, situated between the mainland of Tanzania and the large island of Madagascar.
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Its culture is a hybrid of African, Arab and French influences and it boasts of the most pristine - and empty - beaches in the world. Tourism should have taken off in the Comoros years ago, certainly after its independence from France in 1975. However, there has it seems, always been trouble in paradise. Almost twenty coups, declarations of secession as each of the three islands has taken its turn to revolt and the influence of a certain French mercenary, Bob Denard has turned these in to the islands of renegades and revolts. Denard, now dead, was rumoured to be the inspiration for Frederick Forsyth's “The Dogs Of War”. No wonder in the past that they were a haven for pirates. One would not be surprised to bump in to Captain Jack here!
About a year ago Colonel Mohamed Bacar, regional leader of Anjouan, the second largest of the islands, went ahead with an election that had been postponed officially. He then proceeded to declare himself the winner. This has been to the great annoyance of the President, Ahmed Sambi, whose plane was not even allowed to land on Anjouan during the elections. So, for the past few weeks his troops have been massing on the smallest of the islands, Moheli, in preparation for an invasion.
The three hundred thousand or so inhabitants of Anjouan knew it was coming. In fact they have been “love bombed” consistently during March of 2008. Hundreds of thousands of leaflets were dropped on them, telling them to stay at home on 25 March.
So when the strangely named National Development Army, together with over thirteen hundred soldiers from the African Union invaded, most people had not gone to work, the children had not gone to school and the leader of the army, Major Ahmed Sidi was able to declare control of the island by lunch time. There were some shots, a few explosions but no one was either dead or injured.
Taking power, of course is one thing. As occidental experiences in Baghdad have shown, holding on to it is entirely another. Where the island go from here is, realistically, anyone's guess but at least no one was killed here.
Injured pride, however, is another thing. The ousted Colonel Bacar was last seen, it seems, in drag and in a dinghy, licking his wounds somewhere in the Indian Ocean. And no doubt, thinking about a come back some time in the near future.
