afrol News, 18 March - Authorities in Comoros Islands said fresh elections will be held in the semi-autonomous island of Anjouan in May after a successful ousting of self-declared leader Mohamed Bacar from power.

The ousting will follow the restoration of constitutional order and the appointment of a
transition government that will be tasked with organising fresh elections, assured the Vice President of Comoros Islands , Idi Nadhoim.

Mr Bacar - a former French-trained gendarme - declared himself President of Anjouan last July after he had won an election. But central government declared the election illegal.

African Union ministers agreed to back the government of President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi to regain control control over Anjouan. This followed a stall in the long conflict, with the AU's Comoros envoy, Jose Francisco Madeira accusing the renegade leader of refusing to hold fresh elections or go into exile.

Already, hundreds of AU troops mainly from Senegal, Sudan and Tanzania have been sent to support the central government.

With its history of political violence, the Comoros has teetered on the brink of disintegration since independence amid tensions between the semi-autonomous islands and the central government.

Troops led by African Union Ahead of the planned deployment of Soldiers from the Comoros islands have clashed with forces on the island of Anjouan loyal to a renegade leader.

A fight ensued between troops loyal to Mr Bacar and government troops along the coast of Anjouan at the weekend. Comorian military said the clash resulted to the deaths of several rebels while two soldiers sustained injuries.

However, Mr Bacar insisted that President Sambi lacked constitutional powers to remove him from office, accusing him of violating the constitutions of both the union and Anjouan.

Since Comoros Islands gained independence from France in 1975, the country had experienced 19 coups and attempted coups.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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