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Comoros Islands VP Appeals for Election Funding

   Peter Clottey 22 June 2010

Photo: AP

   Comoros  Islands  President  Mohamed  Abdallah Sambi formed an interim
   government  Monday  aimed  at  organizing  the  upcoming  vote  on 7th
   November.

   The  Comoros  Islands vice president is appealing to the international
   community,   including   the  European  Union,  to  help  finance  the
   archipelagoâs elections scheduled for 7^th November this year.

   Idi  Nidhom  said  the  government widely consulted with all political
   parties before unanimously agreeing to the election timetable.

   âWe  came  into an agreement with all political parties and the Island
   governors   mainly   to   put   together   a   government  with  three
   representatives  with the Islands authorities, and here we are. We are
   going  to have the elections in November, the first round, and then we
   will see,â he said.

   This  comes  after  President Mohamed Abdallah Sambi formed an interim
   government  Monday  aimed  at  organizing  the  upcoming  vote on 7^th
   November.

   Political  observers  say  tension  is  high since President Sambi was
   declared  winner  of  last yearâs referendum that extended his mandate
   for an additional 18 months.

   But, Vice President Nidhom denies the alleged escalating tensions.

   âThere was no tension at all. A few people were shouting (and) that is
   not  tension.  You  have  two or three people shouting on the TV or on
   radio and that is not a big deal,â Nidhom said.

   People  in  the  Comoros Islands voted last year in what analysts said
   was   a  controversial  referendum  that  extended  President  Sambiâs
   mandate. But, the opposition dismissed the vote saying the low turnout
   was an indictment of Mr. Sambiâs leadership.

   Opposition  groups  have  often accused President Sambi of clinging to
   power  and weakening each islandâs autonomy - - a charge supporters of
   the government deny.

   The  government  defended the referendum saying the current system was
   too costly.

   After  months  of  negotiations backed by the African Union, political
   leaders  agreed  to  hold  the first round of the presidential vote on
   7^th November with the second round scheduled for 26^th December.

   Vice  President Nidhom said the continental body played a pivotal role
   in resolving disagreements among the countryâs political leaders.

   âThe African Union came to see us and said, âLook, we will like to see
   everyone  accept  the  electoral  process.â  And,  we have accepted to
   shorten  our  mandate. Letâs put it that way, instead of one year, one
   year  and more, letâs go for six months and hold elections in November
   2010 instead of November 2011,â Nidhom said.

   Meanwhile,  residents on the island of Moheli are reportedly expecting
   one  of  their leaders to soon take over the presidency from President
   Sambi as stipulated in the Comoros Islands constitution.

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