Comoros Conduct Peaceful Presidential Elections

By Alan Gray, NewsBlaze  

The Union of the Comoros held elections on 26 December, 2010.

According to media reports, the Comoros' electoral commission and constitutional court declared on January 13 that Ikililou Dhoinine was the winner of the presidential elections, with 61 per cent of the vote. Mr. Dhoinine was the deputy president under outgoing President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon commended the people of the Comoros on the peaceful presidential and gubernatorial elections, and welcomed the acceptance of the final results by candidates.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, Mr. Ban lauded the important role played by the African Union (AU) in encouraging the holding of the "peaceful and democratic" elections.

A joint statement on 29 December, by international observers from the AU, the League of Arab States, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, indicated the elections were generally free and fair.

Secretary-General Ban's spokesperson said "The Secretary-General reiterates the United Nations' commitment to support the efforts of the Comorian people in the consolidation of national unity and democracy as well as the promotion of socio-economic development."

The Comoros are an island nation off the eastern coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean, between Mozambique and Madagascar. The capital of Moroni is on Grande Comore.