Politics of Comoros

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Comoros
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Comoros

President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi Assembly of the Union Island Assemblies Supreme Court Elections President 2006 Parliament 2004 Politicians Political Parties Foreign relations
Other countries · Politics Portal view • talk • edit

Politics of the Union of the Comoros takes place in a framework of a federal presidential republic, whereby the President of the Comoros is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament

1 Political background
2 The Islands
3 Executive branch
4 Legislative branch
5 Judicial branch
6 Political parties and elections
7 International organization participation
8 Notes

[edit] Political background

The Union of the Comoros, known as the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros until 2003, is ruled by Colonel Azali Assoumani. The political situation in Comoros has been extremely fluid since the country's independence in 1975, subject to the volatility of coups and political insurrection. Colonel Azali seized power in a bloodless coup in April 1999, overthrowing Interim President Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde, who himself had held the office since the death of democratically elected President Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim in November, 1998.

In May 1999, Azali decreed a constitution that gave him both executive and legislative powers. Bowing somewhat to international criticism, Azali appointed a civilian Prime Minister, Bainrifi Tarmidi, in December 1999; however, Azali retained the mantle of Head of State and army Commander. In December 2000, Azali named a new civilian Prime Minister, Hamada Madi, and formed a new civilian Cabinet. When Azali took power he also pledged to step down in April 2000 and relinquish control to a democratically elected president, a pledge which he has yet to fulfill.

In a separate nod to pressure to restore civilian rule, the government organized several committees to compose a new constitution, including the August 2000 National Congress and November 2000 Tripartite Commission. The opposition parties initially refused to participate in the Tripartite Commission, but on 17 February, representatives of the government, the Anjouan separatists, the political opposition, and civil society organizations signed a "Framework Accord for Reconciliation in Comoros," brokered by the Organization for African Unity (OAU).

The accord called for the creation of a new Tripartite Commission for National Reconciliation to develop a "New Comorian Entity" with a new constitution. The new federal Constitution came into effect in 2002 and presidential elections were held, at which Azali Assoumani was elected President. In April 2004 legislative elections were held, completing the implementation of the new constitution.

The new Union of the Comoros consists of three islands, Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli. Each island has a president, who shares the presidency of the Union on a rotating basis. The president and his vice-presidents are elected for a term of four years. The constitution states that, "the islands enjoy financial autonomy, freely draw up and manage their budgets".

President Assoumani Azali of Grande Comore is the first Union president. President Mohamed Bacar of Anjouan formed his 13-member government at the end of April, 2003.

On 15 May, 2006, Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, a cleric and successful businessman educated in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, was declared the winner of elections for President of the Republic. He is considered a moderate Islamist and is called Ayatollah by his supporters. He beat out retired French air force officer Mohamed Djaanfari and long-time politician Ibrahim Halidi, whose candidacy was backed by Azali Assoumani, the outgoing president. [1]

[edit] The Islands

The constitution gives Moheli, Anjouan and Grande Comore the right to govern most of their own affairs with their own presidents.

[edit] Executive branch

Main office holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi		26 May 2006

The federal presidency is rotated between the islands' presidents. The Comoros abolished the position of Prime Minister.

[edit] Legislative branch

The Assembly of the Union has 33 seats, 18 elected in single seat constutuencies and 15 representatives of the regional assemblies.

[edit] Judicial branch

The Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, has two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents of the republic.

[edit] Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in the Comoros. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Comoros.

Elections were held in 2004 where federal president Azali suffered a major setback by only winning 6 of the 18 seats in the National assembly, the other going to the supporters of the presidents of the semi-autonomous islands.

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 16 April and 14 May 2006 Comoros presidential election results**
Candidates - Parties	Votes in the Anjouan Primary	%	Votes in the Union	%
Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi	14,568	23.70	99,112	58.02
Mohamed Djaanfari	8,052	13.10	23,322	13.65
Ibrahim Halidi - Movement for the Comoros (Mouvement pour les Comores)^[1]	6,376	10.37	48,378	28.32
Caabi El-Yachroutu Mohamed	5,877	9.56	-	-
Nourdine Midiladji	5,221	8.49	-	-
Nassuf Ahmed Abdallah	3,276	5.33	-	-
Seven others	18,097	29.44	-	-
Total (Turnout 54.9% / 57.3%)	61,467		170,812
Source: African Elections Database

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 18 and 25 April 2004 Assembly of the Union of the Comoros election results**
Parties	%	Seats
Camp of the Autonomous Islands (Camp des Îles Autonomes)	.	12
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (Convention pour le Renouveau des Comores, CRC, Azali Assoumani)	.	6
Representatives of the regional assemblies	.	15
Total		33
Source: Voice of America