Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani Secures His Fourth Consecutive Term

Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani has secured his fourth consecutive five-year term, as declared by the country’s electoral body on Tuesday, following Sunday’s election. Assoumani, who has been in power since 1999 when he initially came to power through a coup, has won three previous elections. However, his government has faced accusations of suppressing dissent, which it denies.

The results published by the national electoral commission indicated that Assoumani garnered 62.97% of the vote. Despite this, the election was marked by low turnout, with only 16% of registered voters participating in the presidential election, largely due to an opposition boycott.

Opposition candidates have raised concerns about irregularities, including alleged ballot stuffing and early closure of polling stations in favour of Assoumani. However, international poll observers have maintained that the voting was mostly free and fair, notwithstanding these reported irregularities.

Comoros, an Indian Ocean archipelago nation with a population of approximately 800,000 people, has experienced about 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. The country is also a significant source of irregular migration to the nearby French island of Mayotte.

Assoumani, a former military officer, first assumed power through a coup in 1999 and has maintained his grip on power since then. He won his first election in 2002, briefly exited politics in 2006, and returned with a presidential victory in 2016. His ability to seek a fourth term was made possible through a controversial referendum in 2018, which removed presidential term limits and led to widespread protests.

Critics of Assoumani’s rule have accused him of imprisoning and exiling political opponents. Despite these controversies, he currently holds the position of Chairperson of the African Union.