Comoros runoff election results remains in doubt

More than a week after the presidential runoff election on the Comoros islands, the outcome still remains in doubt.

President of the consumer society of the Islands, Mohamed Mchangama said the situation remains tense in the region as Vice president Soilihi has asked the constitutional court to rule on the legality of the results from the island of Anjouan, VOA reports.

“We have provisional results from the electoral commission saying that Colonel Azali, but of course the challenger, Dr. Mohamed Ali Soilihi, the Vice President is going to the constitutional court saying that there was fraud, and many electors could not vote. So they are asking for a new vote in some parts of the island of Anjouan,“he said.

Mchangama said although there has been no fight, the situation in the island remains quite tense as all the candidates are claiming victory.

“The followers of Mohamed Ali Soilihi were having a meeting, which is supposed to be forbidden, claiming that the constitutional court will recognize them as the winner,” he said.

He noted that the constitutional court had began work on Wednesday, and everyone is waiting for what the constitutional court will do.

Comoros officials have began counting ballots after a tense three-way presidential run-off poll closed on Sunday https://t.co/2Kk5tN1AbS

— AJE News (@AJENews) April 10, 2016

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had commended the Comorian people for “peacefully fulfilling their civic duty by participating” in the second round election on April 10, 2016.

The first round election took place only on Grand Comore island in line with electoral rules to choose the president on a rotational basis from the three main islands.

Mchangama said the political situation in the region has further hurt the already poor economy of the islands.

Meanwhile, current president Ikililou Dhoinine’s term expires on May 28 after serving a one five-year term.