Comorian legal status, stated plainly
The UK FCDO writes that same-sex sexual activity is illegal in the Comoros and can carry up to five years' imprisonment and heavy fines. This source does not cite the article of the penal code.
Why this risk also concerns travellers
The law applies to Comorians and foreign visitors alike. A European passport offers no protection from prosecution. Before a stay in Moroni or Anjouan, read the UK page on the Comoros and the general FCDO advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Fake Comorian profiles and digital entrapment
The UK government reports that, in some countries, entrapment campaigns target LGBT+ people through popular dating apps. Washington adds that, in some countries, police officers themselves open fake accounts on these apps. Be wary of new contacts who are too insistent.
Blackmail and extortion: the scenario to anticipate
In a country where the relationship is criminalised, a compromising conversation can be used to demand money under threat of denunciation. Do not give in, keep the evidence, cut off contact and seek help from someone you trust or from your consulate.
Discretion in Comorian public spaces
According to London, islanders regard most public displays of intimacy as indecent, including between women and men. For two people of the same sex, any show of affection can attract dangerous attention: restraint is a form of protection.
Protecting your data and identity online
Use a pseudonym and a dedicated email address, and switch off precise geolocation. Avoid photos showing your face, workplace or neighbourhood. Lock your phone and regularly delete sensitive conversations stored on the device.
Never send identifiable images
An intimate photo or a recognisable portrait sent to a stranger can be kept and used against you. In the Comoros the stakes go beyond embarrassment: criminal prosecution may follow. Keep such exchanges for someone whose identity has been established for a long time.
Taimi and global apps: precautions
According to its support pages, Taimi is restricted to over-18s and free in its basic version, with paid options. No figure shows its Comorian audience. On this app as on any other, the law of the archipelago applies and the criminal risk remains.
A trusted contact before every date
Before meeting someone, give a reliable friend the displayed name, the place and the time, then agree on a check-in message. Choose a public place, never follow anyone into a private home and keep the means to leave on your own.
Embassy and consulate: what they can do
The FCDO states that its consular staff will neither generalise nor judge. The US Department of State recommends asking for the embassy to be notified in the event of arrest and offers free enrolment in the STEP programme. Note these contacts before you travel.
Comoros and Madagascar: two frameworks to compare
Our full legal reference points are on the page devoted to the Comoros. The Malagasy neighbour falls under a different legal framework: see gay and lesbian dating in Madagascar before comparing the situations or planning a trip in the region.
The Comorian diaspora and privacy
For Comorians in the diaspora, the risk can also come from information reaching relatives who stayed in the islands. Control who sees your profiles and photos. Our advice on the role of families is in dating between men and women in the Comoros.
Reliable resources for LGBT+ people and the Comoros
- FCDO, conseils aux voyageurs pour les Comores: Source of the criminal status: same-sex relations illegal, up to five years in prison and heavy fines.
- FCDO, conseils aux voyageurs LGBT+: General UK advice: entrapment via apps, discretion, hotels and non-judgemental consular assistance.
- Département d'État, voyageurs gays et lesbiens: US warnings about fake police profiles, monitored venues and the STEP programme.
- Taimi: LGBTQ+ app restricted to over-18s, free in its basic version according to its support pages.
Seven LGBT+ safety habits for the Comoros
- Reread the Comorian criminal status published by the UK government before installing an app or travelling.
- Create a profile with no recognisable face, no full name and no hint of your neighbourhood or employer.
- Turn off precise location and lock your phone with a code nobody else knows.
- Be wary of a contact who pushes to meet very quickly or to leave the app for another messaging service.
- Tell a trusted person the place and time, with a check-in message agreed in advance.
- If you face threats or blackmail, do not pay, keep the evidence and contact your consulate.
- Save the details of your embassy or consulate before any stay in the archipelago.
Legal status of same-sex couples in the Comoros
| Question | What the sources say | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Same-sex relations | Illegal | UK government, 10 December 2025 |
| Penalty | Up to 5 years in prison and heavy fines | UK government, 10 December 2025 |
| Article of law | Not cited by the source | UK government, 2025 |
| Recognition of couples | No mention in the sources | Verified notes, October 2026 |
| Countries criminalising these relations | More than 60 according to Washington, around 70 according to London | Department of State 2025; FCDO 2023 |
What to carry during a stay in the Comoros
- Valid passport and a digital copy stored somewhere safe
- Contact details of the relevant embassy or consulate
- Number of a trusted contact learnt by heart
- Travel insurance certificate with assistance cover
- STEP enrolment confirmation for US citizens
Dangerous mistakes for LGBT+ people in the Comoros
- Believing that foreign tourist status shields you from Comorian law, when the penalty can reach five years in prison.
- Sending recognisable or intimate photos to a recent contact, who may use them for blackmail or denunciation.
- Agreeing to a first date in a private or isolated home with someone whose identity has not been established.
- Paying a blackmailer in the hope of silence: the demand usually comes back, higher, and the evidence stays in their hands.
- Displaying your orientation on a public profile linked to your real name, your family or your employer in the Comoros.
LGBT+ questions about the Comoros
Is it illegal to be gay in the Comoros?
The UK government states that same-sex sexual activity is illegal in the Comoros, with a penalty of up to five years in prison and heavy fines. This update is dated 10 December 2025; the article of law is not cited in it.
Can you use a gay dating app in the Comoros?
Technically yes, but the risk is high. London and Washington report that fake profiles can be used to entrap LGBT+ people in some countries. An anonymous profile, no identifiable photos and never meeting in a private place remain essential.
Does a female couple face any risk in the Comoros?
The UK source refers to sexual activity between people of the same sex without distinguishing men from women. Female couples should therefore assume the same criminal risk, and the discretion expected in public applies to every sign of affection.
What should you do if arrested in the Comoros?
Ask for your embassy or consulate to be informed, as the US Department of State recommends. The FCDO says its consular staff do not judge. Avoid signing a statement written in a language you do not master and request the assistance of a lawyer.
Useful platforms and organisations
Human Rights Watch – LGBT Rights in AfricaHuman Rights Watch analysis of progress and setbacks for LGBT people's rights in several African countries.
Grindr for Equality – Holistic Security GuideGrindr's holistic security guide covering digital, physical and psychological safety for users in high-risk contexts.
Canadian Anti-Fraud CentreCanada's anti-fraud centre, which collects reports and publishes warnings about romance fraud.
Indicative list: AfriqueRencontres.com has no commercial link with these organisations. Never send money to someone you only know online.
Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueRencontres.com does not arrange meetings and never asks for money: never transfer money to someone you know only online.