Frequently Asked Questions

Police station :

• Central Police Station, Kalfane Road, Moroni (See on Google Maps).
• Police Station, Hombo Road, Mutsamudu (See on Google Maps).
• Police Station, Port Road, Fomboni (See on Google Maps).

Gendarmerie :

• National Gendarmerie of the Comoros, Place de France, Moroni (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Vouvouni (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Mitsoudje (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Koimbani (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Dembeni (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Foumboni (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Mbéni (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Nioumachoi (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Wanani (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie of Anjouan (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Ouani (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Pomoni (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Bandakouni (See on Google Maps)
• National Gendarmerie, Domoni (See on Google Maps)

Note : Police or gendarmerie services are required to record your complaint if you are a victim of an offense.

Judicial police officers and agents must receive your complaint even if the facts do not fall within their geographical jurisdiction.

At the end of your hearing by the police or gendarmerie, you receive a receipt and a copy of your complaint if you request it.

You can file a complaint against a natural person or a legal entity (a company, an association…).

If you do not know the perpetrator or are not sure of their identity, you can still file a complaint. In that case, your complaint must be filed against X.

You can file a complaint if you are a victim of an offense.
Any person (adult, minor or legally protected person) can file a complaint.

If you represent a legal entity (company, association…), you can also
file a complaint on behalf of the organization.

You must be a victim of an offense, that is to say a crime, a misdemeanor or a contravention in order to file a complaint. This is called a criminal dispute.

Not all disputes result in a complaint. Some disputes are purely civil or administrative because there is no offense. 

Example : You have not received a product ordered from a merchant : this dispute is civil. It can become criminal if the merchant attempted to deceive you in order to sell you a product. In that case, you are a victim of fraud.

Note : You are not required to qualify the offense you have been a victim of when you file a complaint (for example, to say that you are a victim of fraud). You only need to describe the facts you experienced without defining the offense.

You must file a complaint before the prescription period expires.

The limitation periods are as follows :

• 1 year for infractions (disturbance of the peace, bodily injuries without ITT …)
• 6 years for misdemeanors (theft, assault and battery, fraud, non-maintenance of a child …)
• 20 years for crimes (murder, rape, armed robbery …).

If the facts are time-barred, your complaint can no longer proceed.

Note : For certain specific offenses, these limitation periods can be reduced or extended. For
example, the limitation period for an insult is 3 months, whereas for terrorism it is 30 years.

The limitation period generally starts from the day the offense was committed.

For a crime against a minor, a new period starts from the victim’s majority. For example, a minor victim of rape can file a complaint up to the age of 48, i.e. 30 years after their majority (special 30-year period starting from majority).

A civil decision can be enforced when it becomes enforceable, that is to say :

• Immediately, if the judge has provided for provisional execution (the decision can apply even if there is an appeal);
• After the appeal deadlines, if the case does not benefit from provisional execution (then said to be “res judicata”).

The judge can grant an additional period (grace period) before enforcement, depending on the circumstances.

Before any enforcement, the judgment must be notified or served officially to the person concerned. This notification is generally carried out by a clerk or a judicial officer (for example, a bailiff).

Without notification, forced enforcement (such as seizure or eviction) is not valid.

• Amicable enforcement : The debtor (the condemned person) can voluntarily comply with the decision (pay, vacate a premises, etc.). The parties can also agree on terms (payment schedule, deadline…).
• Forced enforcement : If the debtor refuses, the creditor can call on a bailiff or judicial officer, authorized to implement seizures, evictions or other measures provided by law.

A civil decision is enforceable for a period of 10 years. This period is suspended each time an enforcement act occurs, which allows a new 10-year period to start.

A creditor can never carry out a decision on their own (for example, evicting a tenant without a court order). Such actions are illegal and can be punished.

In case of difficulty (refusal of enforcement, dispute, abuse…), you can refer to the judge of enforcement at the competent court. This judge can:

• Grant extensions,
• Order forced enforcement,
• Suspend an unjustified measure.

• You can obtain a certified copy of the judgment for free from the court registry.
• You may be entitled to legal aid if your resources are modest, to cover bailiff or lawyer fees.

For more information or to initiate an enforcement procedure:

• Contact the court registry nearest to your residence
• Or contact an authorized bailiff in the Comoros

Domestic violence can take several forms :

• Physical : hitting, slapping, hair-pulling, etc.
• Sexual : rape, imposed touching, sexual harassment.
• Psychological : insults, humiliation, threats, isolation.
• Economic : withholding money, forbidding work, controlling resources.

1/ Seek help immediately

• Contact the police or gendarmerie locally.
• Go to the hospital to have your injuries documented.
• Talk to relatives or to a victim support association (helpline at
• number following : 332 37 87)

You can request a protection order from the judge, even without having filed a complaint. This decision can :

• Prohibit the abuser from contacting or approaching you
• Award you the couple’s home
• Arrange child custody with strict visitation rules

In case of emergency, immediate provisional protection can be ordered.

Filing a complaint allows you to pursue criminal proceedings against the perpetrator of the violence. It is important to gather all evidence. You can be accompanied by:

• A victim support association (helpline at 332 37 87)
• A lawyer

The court can suspend or remove parental authority from the violent parent. Custody can be awarded to the other parent with strictly regulated visitation rights.

• Police or gendarmerie
• Hospital or health center
• First instance court
• Local women’s rights associations (helpline at 332 37 87)