Comoros Voters Agree to Unite

A secessionist crisis in Comoros in the Indian Ocean appeared resolved Tuesday after 75% of voters backed a new constitution to reunite the three islands, provisional results showed.

Officials released the provisional results from regional electoral commissions after Sunday’s referendum in the islands, which have been plagued by more than 20 coups or coup attempts since independence from France in 1975.

Just 25% of voters opposed the new constitution, the officials said.

The new constitution grants the islands of Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli--off the eastern coast of Africa--greater autonomy within a new federation. It is aimed at ending a political crisis that began when Anjouan and Moheli unilaterally seceded in 1997.

The secession bid was quickly put down on Moheli, but Anjouan continued to resist efforts to re-integrate it by force. However, the island was rebuffed in its bid to rejoin France and has struggled under sanctions imposed by the Organization of African Unity.

On Sunday, Anjouan gave the most resounding “yes,” with more than 90% of voters in favor of rejoining the other islands.

Opposition spokesman Houmed Msaidie said in Moroni, the republic’s capital, that he was happy with the results of the referendum. Members of the opposition also were involved in drafting the new constitution.

“The major ‘yes’ vote in Anjouan shows the will of the Anjouan people to get out of their current situation [of secession] as quickly as possible,” he said.

Final results are due to be confirmed by the national electoral commission Jan. 7. Turnout was estimated at 75%.

Comoros has been afflicted with political instability since independence. In the latest coup attempt--just last week--13 mercenaries launched an invasion of Moheli, but the move was swiftly crushed.

Under the new constitution, signed by the leaders of all three islands in February 2000, what is currently the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros will become the Union of Comoros.

After the referendum results have been officially confirmed, a government of national unity will be formed to oversee the transition to elections, which must take place within 12 months.

After those elections, the presidency is expected to alternate between the islands in four-year terms. The parliament will be made up of 33 members, with each island allocated seats according to population.