Comoros Power Grab Rejected By Opposition, Amid Pleas for International Intervention
President Azali Assoumani of the Comoros Islands is tightening his grip on power. First, he insisted on holding a referendum allowing him to extend his term of office and abolish the country’s constitutional court. Which he won. And now, the lawyer of former President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi has said that his client has been charged […]
Controversial vote on presidential powers passes in Comoros
Comorans have voted overwhelmingly in favour of controversial constitutional reforms that will allow President Azali Assoumani to seek another term, according to electoral officials. Ahmed Mohamed Djaza, president of the Comoros National Electoral Commission (CENI), said on Tuesday that the “yes” vote was backed by 92.74 percent of the voters, or 172,240 people. Speaking during […]
Comoros Row With France Intensifies As Turmoil Brews At Home
The long-running dispute over the island of Mayotte has deepened recently. Could developments afoot in the Comoros change anything? Despite promises to resolve tensions, relations between France and the Comoros have only deteriorated in the past few months. A war of words and popular protests have escalated on both sides, leading France to suspend visas […]
Latest Report on Poverty in the Comoros
STORY HIGHLIGHTS The World Bank has just published its assessment report on poverty in the Comoros, based on an analysis of the two latest series of household surveys. The report notes that while there has been a reduction in poverty in both urban and rural areas since 2004, several indicators for well-being point to persistent […]
Comoros Vice-President Ahmed Said Jaffar Denounces ‘illegal’ Referendum
The Comoran vice-president has denounced as “illegal” a planned July referendum on constitutional reform that could allow President Azali Assoumani to seek re-election. Assoumani only took office in 2016 but wants to hold a fresh vote next year, two years early, so that he can remain in power beyond 2021 when his currently non-renewable term […]
Visa-free African Union Diplomatic Passport Launched: Everything you need to know about it and how to get it
It’s official—the African Union has launched its continental e-passport program Sunday as part of the opening ceremony of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Kigali, Rwanda. But unless you’re Rwandan President Paul Kagame or Chadian President Idriss Eby, who are already carrying their fancy-looking red and gold document, an […]
UN and African Union Welcome Partial Re-Run of Elections in Comoros
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the African Union Commission today welcomed the peaceful conduct of the partial re-run for the elections of President of Comoros and Governor of Anjouan. In a joint statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson in New York, the UN chief and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, […]
Comoros Runoff Election Results Remain in Limbo
More than a week after the presidential runoff election on the Comoros Islands, the outcome remains in doubt. Comorian Vice President Mohamed Ali Soilihi has challenged the vote results that gave victory to former coup leader Azali Assoumani. Third-placed presidential candidate and Grande Comore Governor Mouigni Baraka has also rejected the results. Vice President Soilihi […]
Minister of Communications Meets Comoros Counterpart
Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr Tahani Abdalla met, on Wednesday, with the Comoros Minister of Transport, Tourism and Communications, Bahyat Massoudi and her accompanying delegation. The meeting sought ways of cementing ties of cooperation between the two Ministries in fields of communications and information technology as well as working to sign agreement within […]