The Union of the Comoros is a sovereign nation comprised of three islands in southeastern Africa, at the northern extremity of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. Moroni is the nation's capital and largest metropolis. The majority of the population adheres to Sunni Islam, which is also the official state religion. On July 6, 1975, Comoros declared its independence from France. As a member of the Arab League, it is the only Arab nation entirely located in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a member of the African Union, International Organisation of La Francophonie, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, and Indian Ocean Commission. There are three official languages in the country: Shikomori, French, and Arabic.