Agreement on authority sharing in Comoros islands

Representatives of the federation of Comoros islands and representatives for the three islands which enjoy self- rule have reached an agreement on sharing authority in the framework of a regional summit in Moroni, aiming at settling the political crisis taking place in Comoros since 1997.

Sources close to the summit said that the sides reached an agreement to organize legislative elections in the federation, and the Greater Comoros island, Anjwan and Mohelli during a period ranging between 4 and 6 months. It is likely that the agreement was signed later on Saturday.

President Thabu Mabeiki of South Africa opened the summit on Saturday with the aim of reaching an agreement on the crisis pertaining to continued authority in Comoros since more than a year between the central authority and the three islands which enjoy self rule.

The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of President of Comoros islands federation Othman Ghazali, the prime minister of Mauritius, Prime minister of Madagascar, former President of Senegal and current secretary general of the Franchophony Abdo Dayyouf and the French designated minister for cooperation Pierre Wiltzer.

Comoros, however, suffered continued political unrest since its independence from France in 1975. Col. Al-Ghazali assumed power in a military coupe in 1999 before he was elected as a president for the federation with vast authorities.

The islands of Comoros were converted to the federation of Comoros in December 2001 with a recently enacted constitution.

According to the new constitution, the islands have a rotating presidency on the ground that the greater Comoros will be the first position among the three, in which the President to be invested for a presidency terms of office of 4 years.

It was due to hold legislative elections before the end of 2002, but it was not recognized because of the conflict over water resources between the federation and the Greater Comoros.