2024 Comorian presidential election

The election was viewed as a referendum on the presidency of Azali Assoumani, who faced opposition from five other candidates. Opposition candidates pledged to unite behind a single candidate should no candidate reach a majority of the vote in the 14 January election, which would trigger a runoff election on 25 February. The opposition candidates shared the slogan "Azali Nalawe" ("Azali, get out"). Ten days before campaigning began, Harimia Ahmed, the senior Supreme Court magistrate responsible for monitoring the elections, was dismissed through a decree by Assoumani. Assoumani campaigned on the slogan "Gwa Ndzima" ("knock out in one go"), signaling his intent to win an outright majority in the first round. He pledged to continue his ongoing projects such as increased infrastructure, turning the country into a tourist destination and raising Comoros' international profile through his assumption of the rotating presidency of the African Union. He also blamed the "coronavirus crisis" for adversely affecting his track record. ==Electoral system==

Until 2018, the presidency of the Comoros rotated between the country's three main islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli. The 2010 elections were limited to Mohélian candidates and the 2016 elections, which were tainted by violence and allegations of irregularities, saw candidates from Grande Comore contest the elections. The changes also moved the next presidential elections forward to 2019 and allowed incumbent President Azali Assoumani to run for another term. The referendum led to violent protests and an armed uprising in Anjouan in October 2018, which was stopped by the military after several days. ==Results==

On 16 January 2024 Idrissa Said Ben Ahmada, the head of the Comorian election commission, announced that Assoumani had received 63% of the vote, precluding a run-off. His nearest rival, Salim Issa Abdillah, received 20%. However, the commission noted that only 55,258 voters had voted in the presidential election, which was boycotted by some opposition candidates, a turnout of just 16%. The commission also said that 189,497 voters voted in the concurrent gubernatorial elections for each of the country's three islands. The Supreme Court validated the election results on 24 January. However, the body provided different figures from the results released by the electoral commission, saying that Assoumani had won the election with 57.2% of the vote, and putting turnout in the presidential vote at 56%, or equivalent to 191,297 voters. ==Aftermath==

At a gathering of his supporters, Assoumani called his reelection "a strong moment for our country, which is doing everything in its power to consolidate democracy." However, his opponents called for the results to be annulled, alleging that electoral irregularities and fraud such as irregularities in the lists of precinct members, ballot-stuffing, early closure of polling stations had occurred and disruptions of voting by soldiers had occurred, and noted that two-thirds of the electorate had turned out to vote for governors of the islands. A government spokesman accused the opposition of organising the protests, while opposition candidate expressed solidarity with what he called a "spontaneous movement". At least one person was reported to have been killed and at least 25 others, including a seven-year-old child, were injured. One of the injured was described as in serious condition. Internet access was also severely disrupted. Reacting to the violence, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged Comoran authorities to "ensure a safe environment, where all Comorans, including members of the political opposition, can freely express their views and exercise their right to peaceful assembly," as well as to release arbitrary detainees, investigate human rights violations in the pre-election period and bring the perpetrators to justice. All five opposition candidates called for a national day of protest against the election results to be held on 19 January, which went unheeded. On 20 January, Mohamed Daoudou, who claimed to have "proof" of fraud, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to request the annulment of the election results and the holding of new elections. However, on 24 January, the Supreme Court dismissed the case along with other such lawsuits coinciding with its validation of the election results. ==Reactions==

China congratulated Assoumani on his victory. ==References==