Newspapers of the Comoros: Moroni, Anjouan, Mohéli and the diaspora

In the Comoros, Al-Watwan and La Gazette des Comores lead print in French, ORTC runs public radio and television, HZK-Presse and Comores Infos publish online, while Shikomori and Arabic complete a media landscape followed closely by the diaspora.

From independence in 1975 to a plural press

After independence was declared in July 1975, the archipelago went through decades of coups that held back the private press. Al-Watwan began appearing in Moroni in 1985 as a public paper, and independent newspapers emerged with the political opening of the 1990s.

Al-Watwan and La Gazette des Comores, two readings of the news

Al-Watwan, the state newspaper, relays government action, cabinet meetings and the life of institutions in Moroni. La Gazette des Comores, a private title, offers a more independent view of the politics, justice system and economy of the Union.

Shikomori, French and Arabic: which language for the news?

The three official languages are Shikomori, French and Arabic. Print is mostly in French, radio favours Shikomori and its island variants, and Arabic appears in religious content, education and relations with the Arab League.

Anjouan and Mohéli, islands with their own media

Each island has its own radio stations, often community-run, in Mutsamudu on Anjouan as in Fomboni on Mohéli. Tensions between the Union and the islands, notably during the Anjouan crisis of 2007 and 2008, long fuelled distinct island coverage.

Comores Infos, HabarizaComores and social media

A growing share of news circulates on sites such as Comores Infos and HabarizaComores, but above all on Facebook and WhatsApp, where Comorians in Moroni, Marseille and Mayotte comment on events. These channels are fast and rarely fact-checked.

HZK-Presse, a leading private agency

The HZK-Presse agency, founded in Moroni, issues dispatches on politics and society that other media pick up under the Habari za Komori brand. Alongside it, Al-Watwan and ORTC serve as official channels for statements from the government and the presidency.

ORTC, the archipelago's public voice

The Comoros Radio and Television Office brings together national radio and public television. Its news programmes, in Shikomori and French, cover official visits and events on all three islands. Local private channels offer debates and broadcasts of religious events.

Marseille, Paris, Mayotte: the diaspora press

The Comorian diaspora, strongly present in Marseille, runs community radio, pages and magazines such as Masiwa. Relations with Mayotte, claimed by Moroni, also come through in the press of the French overseas territories, which covers migration and sea links to Anjouan.

Vanilla, ylang-ylang and sport in the columns

The Comorian economy, built on vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang and diaspora remittances, is covered by general outlets rather than a specialist title. Football gained visibility when the Coelacanths qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

A press freedom climate worth watching

The National Press and Broadcasting Council oversees the sector. Journalists have been arrested or prosecuted during election periods, notably around the 2018 constitutional referendum. Foreign readers benefit from clearly distinguishing between public and private media.

Moroni seen from Antananarivo and Saint-Denis

To put Comorian news in context, the Malagasy press and the Réunion press often cover the same topics: air links, cyclones, regional cooperation within the Indian Ocean Commission and migration towards Mayotte.

Reading for free and checking your sources

Most Comorian sites are free, and Al-Watwan publishes part of its articles online. To verify a story from Moroni, compare the public newspaper, La Gazette des Comores and an HZK-Presse dispatch before passing it on.

Keeping up with the Comoros from a distance

1. Read Al-Watwan daily for the official agenda and La Gazette des Comores for an independent take on politics in Moroni.
2. Add HZK-Presse dispatches, often the first to report a political or judicial event.
3. Listen to ORTC radio online for news bulletins in Shikomori and public announcements.
4. Follow a diaspora outlet in Marseille to understand the debates among Comorians in France.
5. Cross-check any story about Mayotte with a Mahoran outlet or a French overseas public broadcaster.
6. Check the date of voice messages and videos circulating on WhatsApp, the main source of rumours in the archipelago.

Access and subscriptions for Comorian media

Key facts for reading the Comorian press

• Official languages: Shikomori, French and Arabic
• Public broadcaster: ORTC (Comoros Radio and Television Office)
• Public newspaper: Al-Watwan; leading private title: La Gazette des Comores
• Private agency: HZK-Presse (Habari za Komori)
• Islands: Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuani), Mohéli (Mwali)
• Time zone: East Africa Time, UTC+3
• Currency: Comorian franc (KMF)

Pitfalls in Comorian news coverage

• Confusing news from the Union of the Comoros with news from Mayotte, a French department with separate media and institutions.
• Treating an anonymous WhatsApp voice message circulating in Moroni as news confirmed by a recognised outlet.
• Overlooking that Al-Watwan is a state newspaper whose election coverage primarily reflects the government's view.
• Passing off an old video of a shipwreck between Anjouan and Mayotte as a recent tragedy without checking its date.
• Trusting a Facebook page imitating a known outlet, with a copied logo but no website or identifiable newsroom.

Questions about the Comorian press and broadcasters