After the confirmation of his victory by the Supreme Court on January 24, Azali Assoumani invited his supporters, Thursday, January 25 in Moroni, to a celebration in a local hotel where he addressed the Nation.
4 mins
With our correspondent in Moroni, Abdallah Mzembaba
This event was an opportunity for Azali Assoumani, who with this victory secures a third consecutive mandate, to return to his campaign promises, to discuss the violence that occurred during the announcement of the provisional results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, on January 16, and to emphasize the need to take the next step now that the elections are over. He was declared elected in the first roundalthough this victory is still contested and not recognized by his five opponents.
Surrounded by his supporters, Azali Assoumani first presented his condolences to Mouslim’s family. This young person was shot and killed during clashes between the population and the army last week. The president calls for an end to the violence: “ We must indeed find ourselves on this new basis to identify together the actions to be implemented so that more than ever our country and our population can not relive the nightmare of this violence taken to the extreme. »
In power for eight years, the president says he knows the emergencies of the Comorian people: access to health care, drinking water, electricity, basic necessities and jobs for young people. A subject, which was already his flagship promise, during his election as head of the Comoros in 2016.
Azali Assoumani also invites his opponents to plan for the next deadlines: “ I would like to greet with respect my opponents who are candidates for the presidential elections. I would like to tell them that I have not the slightest bit of resentment towards them. I extend a brotherly hand to them as I always have. I am already calling on them to work together now to prepare for the next legislative elections in 2025. »
The opposition turns to the international community
From a national point of view, no further recourse is possible for the opponents, who nevertheless continue to “ reject altogether » the results and place part of their expectations in the reaction of the international community. Yet with slim chances of being heard.
They wrote to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, over a week ago (January 18). The five opposition candidates, who are still demanding the cancellation of the vote and the organization of new elections – government and presidential – hope that a special envoy will be sent to the Comoros and that the continental organization will help to end the ” crisis “.
But the African Union, of which Azali Assoumani is still president until next month, and whose observation mission had judged the electoral process generally ” free ” And ” transparent », has so far, quite simply, not responded to the five opposition candidates.
The latter also rely on the international partners of the Comoros, and particularly cite the United Nations, the European Union, the United States or France, which they believe must not recognize results deemed fraudulent and undemocratic.
No official press release has yet been released, but these expectations risk being quickly dashed. “ It is not possible », Says a fine connoisseur of diplomatic relations in the area. According to this source, the Comoros’ international partners could recognize dysfunctions and tensions, and call for improvements for the next elections, but without going any further into criticism. Reasons given: the need to continue relations with the Comorian authorities and to avoid any interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country.
But the five opposition candidates are not only counting on external support. As of Wednesday evening, after the proclamation of the final results, they called on Comorian voters to “ mobilize “. After two days of riots violent, last week, a tense calm was restored throughout the country. The police made numerous arrests. No official figures have been communicated but, according to the opposition, some 200 young protesters are currently detained as well as several opposition political leaders. “ The resistance is organized », promised again this Thursday one of the five opposition candidates.