Unrest in Comoros as Opposition Demands Presidential Vote Annulment
Security forces in the Comoros clashed Wednesday with protesters angered by the re-election of President Azali Assoumani, as opposition leaders denounced this week’s vote as fraudulent.
Some demonstrators ransacked a former minister's house and set it on fire, as others tried to block roads in the capital. Police responded with tear gas and arrests, AFP reported.
Election officials said on Tuesday that Assoumani had won 62.97 percent of the vote in Sunday's ballot, but the five opposition challengers cried foul, alleging ballot-stuffing and inconsistent results.
"Incontestably, these ballots of Sunday January 14, 2024 are invalid. We denounce them and demand their pure and simple annulment," the candidates said, in a joint statement.
Government spokesman Houmed Msaidie, speaking to AFP, accused the opposition of organizing the protests.
"There have been arrests, but I can't give you the figure for the moment. It's totally normal when there are people out there who want to disturb public order," Msaidie said.
AFP did not say whether the opposition confirmed or denied been behind the unrest.
There have been no reports of deadly violence, but the Comoros — a three-island chain with a population of about 870,000 — is politically volatile and has seen 20 coups or attempted coups since independence in 1975.
Official results released Tuesday showed Assoumani — a former coup leader turned civilian president — won re-election in the first round.
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