Mohéli

island, Comoros

Also known as: Mwali

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Mohéli (Mwali) is one of the islands of the Comoros, located in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. It is situated between Grande Comore and Anjouan. The island experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Mohéli's landscape features a coastal zone of mangroves, followed by areas with coconut palms, mangoes, and bananas. Higher elevations support forests, with broom, heather, and lichens found on the highest peaks. The island's animal life is similar to that of Madagascar and includes various land birds, lemurs, and fruit bats. Mohéli is also a habitat for turtles and the rare coelacanth fish.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Comoros
Relief, drainage, and soils
Mohéli is the smallest island of the group. Composed largely of a plateau that averages about 1,000 feet (300 metres) in elevation, the island ends in the west in a ridge reaching more than 2,600 feet (790 metres) above sea level. The valleys are generally…
Read More
Mohéli is the smallest island of the group. Composed largely of a plateau that averages about 1,000 feet (300 metres) in elevation, the island ends in the west in a ridge reaching more than 2,600 feet (790 metres) above sea level. The valleys are generally…
Read More

flag of Comoros
Anjouan and Mohéli declared independence from Comoros in 1997—a move that was not internationally recognized. In an attempt to restore unity, the national government drafted a new constitution, which was promulgated on December 23, 2001. At that time the current national flag became official.
Read More
Anjouan and Mohéli declared independence from Comoros in 1997—a move that was not internationally recognized. In an attempt to restore unity, the national government drafted a new constitution, which was promulgated on December 23, 2001. At that time the current national flag became official.
Read More

Comoros
History of Comoros
…the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli had become strong enough that their leaders declared each island independent of the republic. The following month an attempt was made by the federal government to suppress the secessionist movement, but troops sent to the island of Anjouan were completely routed. The independence of…
Read More
…the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli had become strong enough that their leaders declared each island independent of the republic. The following month an attempt was made by the federal government to suppress the secessionist movement, but troops sent to the island of Anjouan were completely routed. The independence of…
Read More