By RFIPubliée on 25-03-2019Modified on 25-03-2019 at 18:25
From the end of the morning of Monday, March 25, Internet and part of the telephone network were cut for several hours. At the same time, the security forces were widely deployed in the city, on roundabouts or in front of strategic buildings. Pick-ups filled with soldiers, police or gendarmes regularly circulated in the city. A very unusual atmosphere for the inhabitants.
Opposition candidates launched a peaceful march in the morning. They left the headquarters of the opposition party Juwa, located at La Coulée, before joining the market Volovolo, Magudju and Comoros Optics. Several dozen people joined the procession along the way.
The march, which was to join the Independence Square, was blocked by a cordon of law enforcement in Comoros Optics. They dispersed the crowd with tear gas.
Several candidates were injured by the fumes including Me Said Larifou, transported to the hospital. Others, like Mohamed Soilihi , were arrested. The former soldier nicknamed Countryman was released soon after.
" It's a popular revolution that goes off until we get President Azali's departure. We do not recognize this electoral masquerade , "said Kamal Eddine Sindou, deputy campaign director for Campagnard.
At midday, the city was very quiet with very little traffic, many shops and administrations had closed.
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