The AU urges all the Comorian political stakeholders to work towards the smooth holding of the elections for the presidency and for the posts of Governors of the Autonomous Islands

Addis Ababa, 27 December 2015: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, takes note of the ruling delivered, on 25 December 2015, by the Constitutional Court of the Union of the Comoros, relating to the publication of the provisional list of candidates in the presidential election scheduled to take place in February and in April 2016. The ruling stipulates that candidates who so wish can lodge complaints against the decision. 

The Chairperson of the Commission, recalling previous AU’s pronouncements on the imperative of respecting the Constitution of the Union of the Comoros, notes that, in its above-mentioned ruling, the Constitutional Court rejected any attempt to call into question the constitutional rule on the rotating presidency among the Autonomous Islands, stressing that this rule can only be changed through an amendment to the Constitution. She urges all the Comorian political stakeholders to work towards the conduct of the planned elections for the presidency of the Union and for the posts of Governors of the Autonomous Islands, in the required conditions of freedom, fairness and transparency, so as to consolidate the important gains made by their country on the path of reconciliation and stability.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s commitment, on the basis of its relevant instruments, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, to contribute to the successful conclusion of the electoral process. She appeals to the international community to assist in the mobilization of the necessary resources. In this respect, the AU will continue to work closely with the relevant international partners, including the United Nations, the International Organization of La Francophonie and the European Union, building on the joint communiqué issued by the four organizations on 6 December 2015, calling on the Comorian stakeholders to work towards the successful holding of the 2016 elections and to scrupulously respect their country's Constitution.

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