Azali Assoumani, the President of Comoros, has been declared winner of Sunday disputed elections with 62.97% of the vote, extending therefore his grip on power for five more years. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) released results of the presidential polls on Tuesday January 16. Mouigni Baraka Said Soilihi, one of the primary opponents, vehemently denounced the results, alleging widespread fraud and irregularities in the electoral process. The release of results was preceded by violence and protests mainly in Grande-Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli — home to 870,000 people. In Anjouan, the opposition stronghold, youths had taken to the streets in defiance of a ban on protests.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 17, 2024 18:30 UTC