The Comoro Islands are an archipelago lying between Madagascar and the African continent. The main islands are Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mohéli and Mayotte. The islands are volcanic in origin. The name is Arabic, meaning "the moon islands".

The Union of Comoros is recognized as including the three northernmost islands. Anjouan and Mohéli declared their independence in 1997, however these unilateral declarations of independence received no international recognition and were later rescinded.