afrol News, 12 May - Voters in the Comoros Island of Anjouan will go to the polls on 15 June this year to elect their new President. The election followed the ousting of Colonel Mohamed Bacar from power by a military operation carried out by the African Union and Comorian forces.

Five candidates have put their candidature to contest the polls. They are Moussa Tobou, a former minister in the Djohar government; Bastoine Soulaimane, a Judge and former President of the Anjouan Court of Appeal; Soundi Abdoulatuf, a former French military veteran; Mohamed Djanfari, former National Assembly Speaker and Bacar Abdou, an MP for the Anjouan Island.

Constitutional court had excluded the ousted leader, Mohamed Bacar, from the race. Colonel Bacar and his aide have been seeking refuge in the French Island of Mayotte. The Comoros government has issued an international arrest warrant against Mr Bacar who had ruled the semi-autonomous Anjouan Island between 2002 and 2008.

He was forced from power for refusing to honour decree by the Comorian President, Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, calling off a presidential poll in Anjouan in May last year.
Colonel Bacar went ahead to organise the election and proclaimed himself President, amid widespread international claims that the poll was rigged. He had refused to organise a credible election.

Election campaign is expected to start on 30 May and ends on 13 June. In the event that a second round vote becomes a necessity, qualified candidates will go to the polls on 29 June 2008.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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