Comoros constitutional court validates first round vote

The Constitutional Court in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Comoros, on Saturday; confirmed first-round results of presidential elections after many of the 25 candidates lodged fraud allegations.

The court validated preliminary results that put Vice President Mohamed Ali Soilihi in first place with 17.61 percent, ahead of Mouigni Baraka, the governor of Grande Comore island, and former president Colonel Azali Assoumani.

Some scuffles erupted on Saturday between rival supporters and security forces in the capital Moroni.

#AU takes note of the ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Union of the #Comoros… see more at: https://t.co/6VjQ4iBBGF

— African Union Peace (@AU_PSD) December 28, 2015

Of the 25 candidates, 19 complained about fraud and demanded a recount.

The court judgement reported that “problems at some polling stations” and minor infractions of electoral regulations had “no impact on the election results”.

The three candidates will face off in a nationwide second-round of voting on April 10, with the winner succeeding outgoing President Ikililou Dhoinine.

The first round last month only took place on Grande Comore, in accordance with electoral rules that ensure the president is chosen on a rotating basis from the three main islands.

The system was established in 2001 after more than 20 coups or attempted coups in the years following independence from France in 1975.

Dhoinine’s completion of his five-term term has been seen as a sign of growing stability in the Comoros.