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 […]
Comoros opposition leader jailed 6 months for demos against President Azali Assoumani
A prominent opposition leader in Comoros was jailed for six months on Monday for his part in protests against President Azali Assoumani which have rocked the country, the judge said. Demonstrations erupted in several towns on the volcanic Indian Ocean nation off Africa’s east coast against a proposed end to the system that sees power […]
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 […]
