Voters in Comoros headed to the polls on Sunday to elect a new 33-seat parliament, marking the country’s latest democratic exercise.
The election comes a year after President Azali Assoumani’s reelection, which was marred by allegations of widespread irregularities.
Polling stations opened early, with around 338,000 voters casting their ballots. The Supreme Court had selected nearly 100 candidates to contest the election.
However, some opposition parties, including Juwa, led by former President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, called for a boycott, citing concerns over the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Assoumani’s opponents accuse him of authoritarian tendencies and suspect he is grooming his son, Nour El-Fath, to succeed him in 2029.
Assoumani has been in power since 1999 and has won three elections.
Last year, he granted his son significant powers, putting him in charge of coordinating government affairs.
The election is a crucial test for Comoros’ democratic institutions, which have faced challenges in recent years.
The outcome will be closely watched by regional and international observers.
