The African island nation of Comoros was the first to organize an election as we entered 2024. As expected, the election was rigged, with the incumbent President Azali Assoumani declared the winner, triggering riots. As of January 18, Comoros witnessed a second day of turmoil resulting in one fatality and at least six injuries.
Opposition parties contested the election results, alleging fraud and bias in favor of Assoumani, who, having changed the constitution in 2018 to bypass term limits, secured a fourth term with 62.97% of the vote. Accusations of dissent crackdown and protest bans were leveled against Assoumani, who chairs the African Union, where his largely ceremonial term concludes next month. Having initially come to power in a 1999 coup, Assoumani, 65, was first elected president in 2002, stepped down in 2006, and returned for a second term in 2016.
The government, citing difficulty accepting defeat, arrested unspecified protesters, while the opposition coalition argued that the unrest reflects public frustration. Assoumani’s 2018 constitutional change had previously triggered widespread protests and an armed uprising on one of the islands, quelled by the military.
The protests escalated on Wednesday when a government minister’s residence was set ablaze, and another minister’s car was burned. A national food depot was vandalized, and protesters in and around the capital, Moroni, barricaded roads, burning tires. Clashes between riot police and demonstrators ensued.
In response to the escalating situation, a curfew was imposed from 7 PM to 6 AM in Moroni, the Bambao region, and Itsandra, extending to 10 PM-6 AM in the rest of the country.
Elections in the Comoros take place within the framework of a multi-party democracy and a presidential system. The President and the majority of the seats in the are directly elected.
Latest election
[]| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros | 114,261 | 69.60 | 31 | |
| Orange Party | 8,104 | 4.94 | 0 | |
| Party for the Reform of Institutions | 6,674 | 4.07 | 1 | |
| Democratic Rally of the Comoros | 2,513 | 1.53 | 0 | |
| Twamaya Yahe Komori | 2,496 | 1.52 | 0 | |
| Swauti | 711 | 0.43 | 0 | |
| Independent | 29,404 | 17.91 | 1 | |
| Total | 164,163 | 100.00 | 33 | |
Electoral history
[]Following , the Comoros began to elect representatives to the , with elected from the islands in . The following year the islands a General Council for the first time. In the Council became the Territorial Assembly, and in 1962 became the Chamber of Deputies.
Following independence in the mid-1970s, were held in October 1978, with as the sole candidate. In in December that year all candidates ran as independents. Shortly before the the (Uzdima) had been declared the sole legal party, and won 37 of the 38 seats, with the remaining one going to an independent. Abdallah was again the sole candidate in the , whilst the saw Uzima win all 42 seats.
Multi-party politics was reintroduced in 1990 and of Udzima won the that year, beating of the in the second round, having finished as runner-up in the first round. The produced a fragmented legislature, with 14 parties winning seats and none holding more than seven. the following year produced a majority for the pro-presidential , which won 28 of the 42 seats.
The were won by Abdoulkarim, and the later in the year saw the pro-Abdoulkarim win 36 of the 43 seats amidst an opposition boycott. As a result of a coup, the next presidential elections were not held until , with independent candidate elected unopposed in the second round after his opponents boycotted it. However, in 2004 resulted in a victory for the opposition . The were won by . The in 2009 were won by the Baobab movement supportive of the President.
in 2010 saw elected president. The delayed produced another fragmented Assembly, with the emerging as the largest party with eight seats.
Electoral system
[]President
[]The is elected for a five-year term the . Prior to a that amended the electoral system, the presidency rotated between the Comoros' three main islands; , and ; when it was an island's turn to hold the presidency, the first round was held on that island, with the top three candidates progressing to a nationwide second round.
Assembly of the Union
[]The 33 seats in the Assembly of the Union are divided into 24 seats directly elected in single-member constituencies using the , and nine seats elected by the , each of which elect three members.
Referendums
[]Several referendums have been held in the Comoros. In the islands voted in favour of the new French constitution, which resulted in them becoming part of the (rejection would have led to independence). An was held in 1974, which resulted in a large majority (95%) in favour of independence. However, one island, , voted against referendum, and was subsequently separated from the rest of the Comoros to remain under French control.
Following independence, a was held on the continued presidency of in October 1977; despite a vote in favour, Soilih was overthrown the following May. Following his overthrow, a was held, with 99% of voters voting in favour of the new constitution. Further constitutional referendums were held in , , , , and .
- (in French)
- Adam Carr's Election Archive
- African Elections Database