Comoros–Qatar relations

Comoros – Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between Comoros and the State of Qatar.

Comoros – Qatar relations

Qatar	Comoros

Diplomatic representation

Qatar established an embassy in Moroni, Comoros in 2014.[1] The country's inaugural ambassador to Comoros, Mubarak bin Abdulrahman Al Nasser, presented his credentials to the president of Comoros in November 2014.[2]

Comoros maintains an embassy in Doha, Qatar.[3] It appointed its first ambassador to Qatar, Hadji Abdallah Abdoulhamid, in January 2014.[4] His tenure ended in January 2016.[5]

Qatar expelled Comoros' representatives in the country on 19 June 2017, after it severed ties with Doha, giving them 48 hours to leave the country.[6]

Diplomatic visits

On 22 April 2010, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani became the first Arab head of state to pay an official visit to Comoros. While there, he extended an offer of 20 million euros to the Comoros government for it to pay the salaries of its civil servants. President Ahmed Sambi confirmed that the money was deposited into the Comoros central bank in May 2010.[7]

Diplomatic cooperation

2017 Qatari diplomatic crisis

On 7 June 2017, Comoros cut ties with Qatar, following the lead of several other countries led by a quartet composed of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Shortly after, there were some demonstrations held in the Comoros capital of Moroni which protested against this decision.[8] Five members of the Comoros-Qatar Friendship Association were arrested by Comoran authorities on 19 June, but were released after 24 hours.[9]

Former president Ahmed Sambi condemned the decision to sever ties, saying that Qatar was a "friendly country".[10]

Foreign aid and investments

Qatar hosted a donors conference in March 2010, during which $540 million was pledged for the development of Comoros by Arab-based donors.[11] Qatari-based organizations pledged $200 million towards Comoros' development during the conference.[12] In the aftermath of the conference, Qatar National Hotels Company, a government-owned organization, signed a deal with the Comoran government to build a $70 million hotel resort in Comoros in April 2010.[13]

Qatar Charity became the first philanthropic organization to open a field office in Moroni, the capital city of Comoros, in 2010.[14] At a meeting held by the Arab Committee for Development and Investment in the Comoros in February 2011, Qatar Charity stated that it was executing QR10 million worth of projects, and said it would donate an additional QR55 million towards social development, education and health projects within the upcoming years.[12] In the following years, Qatar Charity spent QR2 million on refurbishing health clinics and schools in Mohéli.[14]

Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation announced it would be constructing a $37 million hospital in Anjouan in 2011.[12] Furthermore, the organization launched a QR4 million cultural complex in Comoros in September 2014. The complex was planned to feature Arabic as well as local Comoran architectural elements.[15]

Following Comoros' severing of ties with Qatar in June 2017, local media reported that two local Qatari charities, RAF and Qatar Charity, were suspending their activities in the country. Reports also claimed that the $37 million under-construction hospital in Anjouan was put on hold for the time being. It was speculated that the cessation of philanthropic activities by Qatar was a retaliatory measure against Comoros' alignment with the Saudi-led quartet in their diplomatic spat.[16]

References

1. Anli Saendou (2014). "Comoros: Opening of the Embassy of Qatar in Moroni". Indian Ocean Times. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
2. "رئيس جزر القمر: دعم قطر يظل محفوراً في ذاكرتنا" (in Arabic). Al Sharq. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
3. "Embassy of the Comoros in Doha, Qatar". embassypages.com. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
4. Anli Saendou (2014). "Comoros: Appointment of the first Qatari Ambassador in the archipelago". Indian Ocean Times. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
5. "Foreign Ministry Holds Farewell Ceremony for Indonesia, Comoros Ambassadors". Qatars Hub. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
6. Maoulida Mbae (19 June 2017). "Rupture diplomatiques / Moroni / Doha Les diplomates comoriens expulsés du Qatar [Diplomatic breach: Moroni / Doha Comoros diplomats expelled from Qatar]" (in French). La Gazette Des Comores. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
7. "Qatar pays off Comoros officials salary arrears". The Siasat Daily. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
8. "Pro-Qatar public protests erupt in several countries". Qatar Tribune. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
9. Maoulida Mbae (19 June 2017). "Tension diplomatique: Moroni/Doha Interpellation des membres de l'amicale Comores-Qatar [Diplomatic tension: Moroni / Doha Interpellation of members of the Comoros-Qatar Association]" (in French). La Gazette Des Comores. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
10. Maoulida Mbae (12 June 2017). "Rupture diplomatique: Moroni/Doha Sambi désapprouve une décision injustifiée [Diplomatic breach: Moroni / Doha Sambi disapproves of unjustified decision]" (in French). La Gazette Des Comores. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
11. "Investing in Comoros". Les Comores. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
12. "Qatar leads development efforts in Comoros". Qatar Is Booming. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
13. "Qatar signs $70m hotel deal in Comoros". Arabian Business. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
14. "QC Supports Agricultural Cooperatives in the Comoros". Qatar Charity. 14 December 2015.
15. "QR4mn donated for cultural complex in Comoros". Gulf Times. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
16. Maoulida Mbae (16 June 2017). "Crise diplomatique Moroni / Doha Raf et Qatari charity plient baggage [Diplomatic Crisis Moroni / Doha Raf and Qatari charity fold luggage]" (in French). La Gazette Des Comores. Retrieved 3 September 2017.