In the Comoros archipelago, the presidential election will be held on Sunday. On Wednesday, President Azali Assoumani, a candidate for re-election against five opponents, visited the island of Anjouan. It is not his original stronghold, but the stakes are high because the island weighs heavily in terms of voters. Azali Assoumani gathered his support for a meeting in the town of Sima, about twenty kilometers from Mutsamudu, the island’s capital.
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With our special correspondent returning from Sima to the island of Anjouan, David Bache
Azali Assoumani is president, colonel and imam. To seek his re-election, he therefore begins by invoking the Koran. Because today, Azali Assoumani is above all a candidate.
Soidiki Ahmed came from the town of Tsembéhou to support him. “ For the island of Anjouan, primary schools have been built, there are also other infrastructures. Currently, we are in the process of developing the regional hydrocarbon directorate in Anjouan, the Mutsadmudu-Sima road is being renovated. We hope that he will continue to see these projects succeed. »
If he had not amended the Constitution in 2018, Azali Assoumani would not have been able to run again and, under the principle of rotating presidency between the islands of the archipelago, the contenders would all have had to come from Anjouan.
Djismane Abdallah, Anjouanese from Mutsamudu, however, does not consider herself wronged. “ It’s not a problem ! What’s the point of changing presidents when what Azali is doing now is for all the islands. The Anjouans understood. They accepted that our president was re-elected! »
The island of Anjouan represents nearly 40% of Comorian voters. According to official figures, for this 2024 presidential election, the island of Anjouan has 132,565 voters, out of a total of 338,940. Grande Comore, where the capital Moroni is located, brings together 181,100 voters, and the third island, Moheli, 25,275.
But among the Anjouanese, many also express virulent criticism against the outgoing president. Of these, almost all expressed their fear of saying these criticisms on the microphone. They say they fear reprisals from security forces. Saïd is an Anjouanese who lives in the town of Lingoni. He agreed to entrust some of his reserves, and he believes that in Anjouan, “ we don’t see the state “. “ The airport is too small, the port is filled with garbage and boats have difficulty entering. There is no electricity. There are even connection problems with phones. »
We don’t see the State. There are many things…
