afrol News - Bacar's extradition ruled out

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Comoros
Politics | Society | Human rights
Bacar's extradition ruled out

afrol News, 24 June - A French appeal court on Tuesday ruled against the Comoran government's request to extradite the ousted President of Anjouan Island.

The Comoran government wants Colonel Mohamed Bacar and his 22 guards to be brought home and tried on numerous charges, including attack on state authority, murder, rape and embezzlement of public funds.

The rebel leader was forced out of power by the African Union-backed military operation in March 2008. Alongside 22 of his personal guards, the self-styled former leader fled to the neighbouring French Island of Mayotte where he sought refuge. He was later moved to Reunion on security grounds.

A Reunion appeal court was convinced that if extradited, Col. Bacar would risk persecution in the Comoros.

Col. Bacar's troubles with the Comoran government were exacerbated by his refusal to relinqush power when his term expired in April last year. Instead, he organised a disputable elections, closed down Anjouan airport, expelled union soldiers and barred the Comoros Federation President, Mohammed Abdallah Sambi, from entering the archipelago.

The three union islands of Ngaxija, Moheli and Anjouan formed the Comoros. Though each island has its own President, yet they remain answerable to the Federal President.

The ousted leader was on 6 June handed a three-month suspended prison sentence by a French court after was found guilty of "importing or possessing of weapons" on Mayotte.

Last month, Bacar's lawyers blamed the French judiciary for rejecting the ex-leader's asylum request.

On Wednesday, the Comoran Constitutional Court declared Mohamed Djanfari winner with 44.18% of votes against 40.12% for Maroni authorities-backed Moussa Toybou. Mr Sondi Abdoulatuf came third with 5.96% of votes, while Mr Bastoine Soulaimane recorded 4.89% to be fourth and Mr Bacar Abdou 4.85%.

Djanfari and Toybou who were split with a difference of only 88 votes, are battling it out in a run-off on 29 June. Anjouan Island has a voter population of 12,432 people.