In Comoros, for the first time since the disputed re-election of Azali Assoumani in 2019, a dialogue between the president and a large part of the opposition is possible. In a letter dated March 16, the Extended Common Front asked him to put in place certain conditions in order to secure the presidential election of 2024.
In an address to the nation, Friday, March 24, President Azali Assoumani said he wanted to examine, with the various national actors, all the ways likely to guarantee free and transparent elections.
To take part in next year’s presidential election, the Front Commun Expanded, an opposition coalition, is asking in particular for the release of political prisoners on trial, freedom of assembly in public or private meetings, the cantonment of the army, and others. forces of order in the barracks or even the equal tripartite composition – power, opposition, and civil society – in the organizations in charge of managing the elections, and of the electoral judges.
President Azali Assoumani’s response was not long in coming: “I would like to reiterate my full availability to receive you to examine, with them and the other political, economic, and civil society leaders of our country, all the voices likely to guarantee free, transparent, democratic elections in our country for next year. »
For its part, the Expanded Common Front assures him: if Azali accepts his conditions, he will participate in the presidential election. However, declared a member of the Common Front in the local press: “Beforehand, we must sign a charter on the behavior to be adopted during this election. He replied to our letter but we will go into the details at the appropriate time.”