The Comoros: A Nation Confronting Organized Crime, Corruption, and Governance Challenges

The Comoros is a small island nation in the Indian Ocean that struggles with significant challenges related to organized crime, corruption, and governance. This article highlights key findings from reports on these pressing issues.

Organized Crime

The Comoros’ poor governance and weak law enforcement create an environment conducive to organized crime. Corruption among state-embedded actors is widespread, and there is evidence of high-level involvement in cases of:

Drug trafficking
Human smuggling
Torture

Corruption

Corruption is a significant challenge in the Comoros, with petty corruption persisting at all state levels. Bribes are common to avoid compliance with regulations and arrests, and the government is perceived to facilitate drug and human trafficking.

Cyber Crimes

While there have been no reports of sophisticated cyber-attacks in the country, digital scams involving identity theft and fraud are common.

Financial Crimes

The Comoros has a poor economic regulatory environment and lacks capacity to effectively collect taxes. Most of the economy operates in the informal sector, making tax collection a significant challenge.

Criminal Justice and Security

The judicial system is under-resourced, overburdened, and heavily influenced by the executive. Corruption remains a significant challenge, with officials often colluding with organized crime groups.

Leadership and Governance

The political situation in the Comoros has been unstable since 2018, with the president cracking down on opposition and limiting press freedom. The government has made minimal efforts to curb organized crime, and a lack of coordination between islands hampers effective governance.

The government’s efforts to support and protect victims remain inadequate and insufficient. Rehabilitation initiatives for drug users are undertaken by some civil society organizations, but these are often privately funded and lack resources.

In conclusion, the Comoros faces significant challenges related to organized crime, corruption, and governance. Addressing these issues will require concerted effort from the government, civil society, and international partners.