EU suspends aid programme as Comoros turmoil continues
FOLLOWING recent clashes between rebel fighters and President Azali Assoumani’s government forces in Anjouan, Comoros, and the arrest of a number of opposition party leaders, the EU is suspending activation of its 2018 annual programme for Comoros.
The EU says this is “in light of strong uncertainties detected with regards to the preconditions that the government of Comoros agreed to”.
Such conditions relate particularly to the terms of the reform of the judiciary and the presence of an independent body that would take over control of the constitution, and development of a strategy to fight corruption.
Welcoming the EU’s decision, Aboubakar Aboud, an adviser to former president Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, and in charge of communications of the leading opposition party, Juwa, said: “We see this move as a first serious warning to the Azali government by a leading multilateral organisation. The EU has been quick to react by refusing to finance government projects related to justice and road networks. We hope this will encourage other multilateral organisations to follow suit.
“President Azali needs to understand that he will not be allowed to destroy the democratic institutions and human rights in the country with impunity.”
After a week of armed clashes between the national army and insurgents in the city of Mutsamudu, Anjouan, and the arrest of the governor of Anjouan, Abdou Salami Abdou, a precarious calm has settled.
Commenting on Abdou’s arrest, Aboud says the presumption of innocence no longer existed in Comoros.
“There is no longer an independent justice system, just as there is no longer an independent National Assembly, which is why I am pleased that the EU has raised the issue of judicial reforms.
“The release of political prisoners was one of the main requests of the AU, and these were not respected by government authorities,” said Aboud.
“The removal of the immunity of three opposition MPs followed by the arrest of the governor of Anjouan can hardly facilitate the resumption of this inter-Comorian dialogue.”