Authorities in Comoros have restricted internet access following protests against President Azali Assoumani’s contested re-election. Amid clashes between police and opposition supporters in Moroni, one person has been reported dead, and six others injured.
The capital’s streets are barricaded, with an undisclosed number of protesters detained. A nightly curfew aims to quell escalating unrest.
President Assoumani secured a fourth term with 63% of the vote, according to the electoral commission’s Tuesday announcement. This sparked violent protests on Wednesday, with opposition parties alleging fraud and demanding result annulment.
Moroni witnessed widespread vandalism, looting, and arson, including an attack on a minister’s residence. Internet disruptions, including blocked WhatsApp calls, hinder communication, preventing the sharing of compromising images on social networks.
Health officials reported casualties on Thursday, with six individuals admitted to El Maarouf hospital, one in critical condition. A 21-year-old protester was killed, likely by gunfire.
Opposition Orange party official Daoudou Abdallah Mohamed described the protests as a “spontaneous uprising against autocratic rule,” emphasizing the opposition’s solidarity rather than organizational involvement.
Government spokesperson Houmed Msaidie affirmed the state’s opposition to violence, identifying known instigators. President Assoumani’s anticipated victory is set for confirmation by the Comoros’ Supreme Court over the weekend.
