Thursday, November 21, 2024

Comoros holds crucial poll as opposition cries foul

Must read

Nigerian High Commission apartments in Ghana demolished

Some new apartments built at the residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana’s capital city Accra, have been demolished by bulldozers. The apartments have been constructed to...

Covid-19: Ghana records significant recovery numbers

Ghanaian health officials on Saturday said over 10,000 persons infected with the coronavirus have now recovered. The significant number of recoveries means the country now...

DR Congo: President’s ex-chief of staff jailed 20 years for corruption

The ex-chief of staff of the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been jailed 20 years by a high court. Vital Kamerhe was...

Covid-19: Zimbabwe’s health minister arrested, charged for graft

Zimbabwe's Health Minister Obadiah Moyo has been arrested over corruption allegations related to procurement of medical equipment worth $60 million. Moyo is accused of illegally...
Isaac Kaledzihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzi is an experienced and award winning journalist from Ghana. He has worked for several media brands both in Ghana and on the International scene. Isaac Kaledzi is currently serving as an African Correspondent for DW.

Comoros is holding a crucial presidential poll on Sunday. It is being keenly contested by incumbent President Azali Assoumani and 12 other opposition candidates.

Opposition candidates however say the process isn’t transparent and fair enough, calling the poll ‘a great masquerade’.

The major candidates who could have posed a key challenge to Azali’s quest to retain power were prevented from running.

Former vice-president Mohamed Ali Soilihi and Ibrahim Mohamed Soule had their bids quashed by the Supreme Court.

Soilihi said “this election is a great masquerade. The plot has been written out in advance.

On the evening of March 24, there’ll be an announcement of victory (for Azali) in the first round. It’ll be forced through.”

The leader of the Juwa Party, lawyer Mahamoudou Ahamada, one of the 12 candidates standing against President Azali said “If the vote were transparent, he wouldn’t win. Azali has no choice but to steal the election.”

Presidential candidate Mahamoudou Ahamada is running for the Juwa party

“Everyone is against him,” he added. Over 50 observers from the AU, EASBRIG and the Arab League are in Comoros for the Presidential elections.

However, there won’t be any EU Observers after the government denied them access.


A second round of voting will take place on April 21 if there is no clear winner.

A voting centre in Comoros.

Political crisis

Comoros has been plunged into a political crisis most part of last year after moves by President Azali Assoumani to prolong his stay in power.

President Assoumani won a controversial referendum which could allow him to stay on for more years.

This move sparked violence in parts of Comoros resulting in clashes between protesters and soldiers.

The political crisis in Comoros has forced the European Union to withhold assistance to the country.

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

- Advertisement -

More articles

- Advertisement -

Latest article

Nigerian High Commission apartments in Ghana demolished

Some new apartments built at the residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana’s capital city Accra, have been demolished by bulldozers. The apartments have been constructed to...

Covid-19: Ghana records significant recovery numbers

Ghanaian health officials on Saturday said over 10,000 persons infected with the coronavirus have now recovered. The significant number of recoveries means the country now...

DR Congo: President’s ex-chief of staff jailed 20 years for corruption

The ex-chief of staff of the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been jailed 20 years by a high court. Vital Kamerhe was...

Covid-19: Zimbabwe’s health minister arrested, charged for graft

Zimbabwe's Health Minister Obadiah Moyo has been arrested over corruption allegations related to procurement of medical equipment worth $60 million. Moyo is accused of illegally...

Ghana’s new law that jails citizens not wearing facemask 10 years

Ghanaians who fail to wear the face masks in compliance with a presidential directive risk going to jail for ten years. They also face a...