Voters in Comoros participated in parliamentary elections on Sunday to elect members of the country’s 33-seat National Assembly, a year after President Azali Assoumani’s re-election, which opposition parties alleged was affected by irregularities.
Polling stations opened early, with approximately 338,000 registered voters casting their ballots. Voting began at 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), marking the first parliamentary elections since January 2020. The elections followed political tensions stemming from Assoumani’s contested re-election in 2024.
Nearly 100 candidates, including current lawmakers and opposition figures, were approved by the Supreme Court to run in the election. Assoumani’s critics raised concerns about the consolidation of power under his administration and the potential for dynastic succession. They speculated that Assoumani might be preparing his eldest son, Nour El-Fath, to assume leadership after his term ends in 2029. Assoumani had been in power since 1999, when he came to power following a coup, and had won three elections since then.
In 2024, Assoumani granted his son significant authority, placing him in charge of coordinating government affairs, further fueling debates about the political future of Comoros.
Some opposition groups, such as Juwa, led by former President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, who is serving a life sentence for corruption, had called for a boycott of the elections, arguing that participation could legitimize the current system. However, other opposition factions decided to contest the elections, aiming to challenge Assoumani’s leadership.
Hamidou Karihila, a candidate for the Hope of the Comoros party, expressed his view, stating, “By participating in these elections, we aimed to highlight the flaws in the current system and bring attention to the challenges facing the country.”
The polls closed at 4 p.m. local time, and results are expected to be released by January 17. The outcome of the election is anticipated to have significant implications for the political future of Comoros.