Comoros: 3 candidates to contest in April 10 run-off

Provisional results of the presidential elections in Comoros show the vice president and candidate of the ruling party, Mohamed Ali Soilih, won the first round of Sunday’s election with 17.61 per cent of votes.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Mouigni Baraka, governor of the island of Grande Comore, garnered 15.09 per cent of the vote and Colonel Azali Assoumani obtained 14.96 per cent.

These three candidates qualified for the second round of the presidential election scheduled for April 10.

About 159, 000 voters cast their ballots on the Grande Comore Island on Sunday in an election that saw 25 candidates competing for the next round.

Election observers commended the electoral process in the country with no major incidences recorded. Security forces were however deployed around major towns amid fears of violence.

The candidates have five days to appeal the results at the country’s Constitutional Court.