By RFIPalled on 03-23-2019 Modified on 23-03-2019 at 22:55

Voters from the Comoros archipelago are called to the polls this Sunday, January 24 for the first round of the presidential election. Twelve candidates are opposed to outgoing President Azali Assoumani who announced the advance poll following the constitutional referendum last July. 308,000 voters for 731 polling stations on three islands. More than fifty international observers from the African Union, the OIF, the Arab League and Comesa made the trip and will go to the polling stations throughout the day.

In 2021, the Comorians should have elected a president from the island of Anjouan without the referendum still much criticized last July that changed the entire electoral calendar. These developments benefit in the first place the current president who after three years of mandate can still run for two consecutive five years, while the initial Constitution provided that the presidency is rotating every five years between the islands.

The voting system also changed since only the island that inherited the presidency voted in the first round and it was necessary to wait for the second round for all voters in the country to vote. Today, the three islands will vote and if a candidate were to exceed 50% of votes, he would be elected president without giving rise to a second round.

Azali against others

Head of state Azali Assoumani, a candidate for his own succession, has made it a slogan: " a single day - a single turn " amplifying the mistrust of his opponents who fear electoral fraud. The island of Anjouan has only 25% fewer voters than Grande Comore enough to tip a national election.

Because this election is a little Azali against others. The outgoing president faces an opposition that has not proposed a single candidate, but who promises to unite in the second round. Opponents of the president accuse him of having prepared everything to prevail: used the means of the state, imprisoned or put under house arrest the embarrassing political personalities, and made invalid the dangerous candidatures.

The fear of fraud

The opposition also suspects the interior minister of preparing a massive fraud to pass in the first round. " I let lies die of their own poison, " said Mohamed Daoudou disdainfully.

Indeed, the majority denies en bloc. According to her, the prisoners would be the result of decisions taken by an independent justice and if public funds were diverted for the campaign, " that the opposition proves it ", explains the presidential party CRC.

In any case difficult to make any estimate as to the result. All candidates come from Grande Comore where the votes could split. Some present Master Mahamoud Ahamada, supported by the Juwa party, as the most serious opponent of President Azali. The lawyer is a novice in politics. " Their movement is strong in Moroni, but not in the hinterland. Dissidents of Juwa are candidates and will crumble their ways, "says a member of the majority. It is said that the victory will be played in Anjouan, the second island of the country, where the opposition is strong. The question is how far.

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