2019 Comorian presidential election

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 saw candidates from Grand Comore contest the elections.[http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/comoros/government Comoros: Government] Global Edge The next presidential election would have seen a president elected from Anjouan.

However, a constitutional referendum in July 2018 saw voters approve constitutional amendments that scrapped the rotation system and instituted a standard two-round system in which a candidate has to receive a majority of the vote in the first round to be elected, with a second round held if no candidate is able to win in the first round. The changes also moved the next presidential elections forward to 2019 and allowed incumbent President Azali Assoumani run for a second term.[https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Africa-top-trouble-spots-in-2019-mapped/4552908-4923110-2sit6rz/index.html Africa’s top trouble spots in 2019 mapped] The East African, 6 January 2019

The referendum led to violent protests and an armed uprising in Anjouan in October 2018, which was stopped by the military after several days.[https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/comoros-army-regains-control-in-anjouan-after-uprising-minister-20181021 Comoros army regains control in Anjouan after uprising: minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616003106/https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/comoros-army-regains-control-in-anjouan-after-uprising-minister-20181021 |date=2019-06-16 }} News 24, 21 October 2018

A total of 20 candidates registered to contest the elections, with the Supreme Court determining the final list of eligible participants.[http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20190123-comores-cloture-depot-candidature-presidentielle Comores: clôture du dépôt de candidature pour la présidentielle] RFI, 23 January 2019 Incumbent President Assoumani ran for reelection, whilst other candidates attempting to register included the two losing candidates from the nationwide vote in 2016 (Mohamed Ali Soilihi and Mouigni Baraka) and Salim Saadi, who contested the 2016 primary elections as an independent. Seven of the 20 applicants were rejected, including the main opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Soulé.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-28/comoros-opposition-leader-urges-protests-unless-vote-invalidated Former Army Chief in Coup-Prone Comoros Rejects Vote Results] Bloomberg, 28 March 2019

{{Election results

|cand1=Azali Assoumani|party1=Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros|votes1=96635

|cand2=Mahamoud Ahamada|party2=Independent|votes2=23233

|cand3=Mouigni Baraka|party3=Independent|votes3=8851

|cand4=Mohamed Ali Soilihi|party4=Union for the Development of the Comoros|votes4=6110

|cand5=Hamidou Karihila|party5=Independent|votes5=3880

|cand6=Fahmi Said Ibrahim|party6=Independent|votes6=3782

|cand7=Hassani Hamadi|party7=Independent|votes7=3576

|cand8=Saïd Larifou|party8=Independent|votes8=3368

|cand9=Achmet Saïd|party9=Independent|votes9=3326

|cand10=Ibrahim Ali Mzimba|party10=Independent|votes10=2185

|cand11=Ali Mhadji|party11=Independent|votes11=1484

|cand12=Said Djaffar Elmacely|party12=Independent|votes12=1474

|cand13=Salim Saadi|party13=Independent|votes13=1104

|invalid=7439

|electorate=309137

|source=[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1183039978522613&set=pb.100069293976304.-2207520000 CENI]

}}

Following the election, the fourth-placed candidate Mohamed Soilihi called for the results to be invalidated and for a campaign of civil disobedience. He was subsequently arrested.

{{reflist}}

{{Comorian elections}}

Comoros

Category:2019 in the Comoros

Category:March 2019 in Africa

Category:Presidential elections in the Comoros