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Comoros
At Stake: President
Background
Since attaining independence from France in 1975, the three African islands of Comoros have withstood 20 coup d'etats or attempted coups. The country is one of the poorest in the continent, and relies heavily on foreign aid.
In December 2001, after a series of violent conflicts, the islands of Moheli, Anjouan and Grande Comore settled on a different type of administration after voters endorsed the new constitution in a referendum. Each island now has its own president, but financial and security issues are still handled by the Union's head of state, Azali Assoumani. The current president took over in April 1999, ousting Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde in a coup.
Voters in Comoros renewed the Assembly of the Union in April 2004.
Click here for 2004 Comoros Election Tracker
2006 Presidential Election
Current president Azali Assoumani is expected to stand down since the position, according to the 2001 agreement, should go to Anjouan. A preliminary ballot will take place in Anjouan on Apr. 16 to select the three final presidential candidates, with the nationwide election following on May 14.
In November 2005, Assoumani claimed that the government would be unable to successfully organize the election "within the next few months."
On Feb. 21, France released close to $1 million U.S. to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to fund the presidential election in Comoros. The grant will be used to update electoral rolls, finance the activities of the electoral commission, and train technical personnel. South Africa and the African Union (AU) have also pledged to provide support for the ballot.
On Mar. 22, the African Union (AU) announced it would deploy "an African Union Mission for Support to the Elections in Comoros (AMISEC)." The team will include "election observers and monitors, 462 military and civilian police personnel, with South Africa as lead nation, as well as the necessary support staff."
On Mar. 24, campaign activities began. Thirteen candidates were registered in Anjouan.
On Apr. 16, Anjouan voters elected religious leader Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, former officer in the French air force Mohamed Djaanfari, and former prime minister Halidi Abderemane Ibrahim as the three Comorian presidential candidates. Turnout for this election was tabled at 54.9 per cent. Sambi received 23.7 per cent of all cast ballots, followed by Djaanfari with 13.1 per cent, and Halidi with 10.4 per cent.
Countrywide voting took place on May 14. Initial reports suggested that Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi would win the election with more than 60 per cent of all cast ballots.
On May 15, Sambi declared, "In view of the results, I am sure and certain that I will be the next president of Comoros."
Halidi's campaign director Youssouf Said cited some irregularities, saying, "Some ballot boxes were stuffed with votes in Moheli and we discovered some voting stations in Moheli and Grande Comore where the number of eligible voters was exactly the same as the number of votes cast."
On May 16, the electoral commission issued final results. Sambi received 58.14 percent of all cast ballots, followed by Halidi with 28.11 per cent, and Djaanfari with 13.72 per cent.
On May 25, Sambi was officially sworn in. In his first speech as president, Sambi vowed to defend Islam, adding, "I swear by God to guarantee that the constitution is respected. I will fight against terrorism and organized crime."
Political Players
President: Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi
The president is elected to a four-year term by popular vote.
Legislative Branch: L'Assemblée de l'Union (Assembly of the Union) will be established for the first time in 2004, in accordance with the new Constitution approved in December 2001. The Assembly has 33 members; 18 members are elected to five-year terms by direct vote, and 15 are chosen by the local assemblies of the three islands: Moheli, Anjouan and Grande Comore.
Results of Last Election:
President - May 14, 2006
Vote% | |
Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi | 58.14% |
Mohamed Djaanfari | 28.11% |
Halidi Abderemane Ibrahim | 13.72% |
Assembly of the Union - Apr. 18 and Apr. 25, 2004
Seats | |
Opponents of Azali Assoumani | 12 |
Supporters of Azali Assoumani | 6 |
Representatives of local assemblies | 15 |