Comoros remains in turmoil as President Azali Assoumani continues to face resistance to his bid to extend his term limit.
Protesters on Monday clashed with soldiers as they continue their push for President Assoumani not to extend his term in office.
He won a controversial referendum to extend his stay in power despite a boycott by the opposition.
The referendum result which was ‘Yes’ ends a system of rotating power among the archipelago’s three main islands.
Majority of citizens in Comoros voted yes allowing President Assoumani to run for two more five year-terms.
The constitution until the referendum provides for the presidency to rotate every five years among candidates from the country’s three main islands.
This was to promote stability and power-sharing in the country. There have been protests both in Comoros and abroad against the move.
There have been concerns also about the arrests of some political opponents in Comoros after a reported failed coup attempt.
The alleged coup attempt came days after the constitutional referendum. Mohamed Sadate Nadjib, a government official in Anjouan told Reuters that 13 people have been arrested.
He is quoted as saying that “These protests are a result of a general sentiment of being fed up with the unfortunate decisions made by President Azali.”
Azali Asoumani will contest next year’s early election without stepping down to end his current tenure in 2021.
President Asoumani is a former military officer who seized power in a coup in 1999. He was re-elected in 2016 after serving an elected term as president from 2002-2006.
Source: Africafeeds.com
