On Sunday, Comoros President Azali Assoumani pledged to work for peace and rapidly grow the economy as he was sworn in for his fourth term, following a tense January election which his opponents claim was marred by voter fraud.
Violent protests erupted after the election body declared Assoumani re-elected with 63% of the vote, resulting in one death and at least 25 injuries.
The country, a group of three islands off the coast of Mozambique with a population of about 800,000, has experienced around 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975 and is a major source of irregular migration to the nearby French island of Mayotte.
Opposition leaders claimed the latest presidential poll was rigged, alleging instances of ballot stuffing and voting being ended before the official closing time. The government has denied these claims.
“Disputes after elections are not unique to Comoros. I thank the Comorian people for their renewed trust; I will not disappoint you,” Assoumani stated at a ceremony in a stadium in the capital, Moroni, wearing a green and yellow sash.
“Following this inauguration, I invite civil society, the opposition, and all political actors to set aside differences in favor of peace and democracy,” added the former army officer, pledging to grow the economy by 5% per year.
Assoumani initially seized power in a 1999 coup. After stepping down in 2002, he returned to win elections 14 years later.
In 2018, constitutional reforms abolished the rule requiring the presidency to rotate among the three main islands every five years, allowing Assoumani to seek re-election in 2019.
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