Freedom in the World 1999 - Comoros

1999 Scores

Status: Partly Free
Freedom Rating: 5.0
Civil Liberties: 4
Political Rights: 6

Ratings Change

Comoros' political rights rating changed from 5 to 6 due to a military takeover in April and the suspension of democratic institutions.

Overview

A peace agreement in April 1999 sponsored by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) between separatists and the interim government of President Tadjidine Ben Said Massonde was to give greater autonomy to the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli, and provide for a rotating presidency. But the deal sparked violent demonstrations targeting people originally from Anjouan living on Grande Comore. On April 30, the army chief of staff, Colonel Azali Assoumani, seized power, suspending the constitution and dissolving all political institutions, including the government and parliament. Anger had been growing in the tiny Indian Ocean islands nation over Massonde's delay in organizing new elections following the sudden death in November 1998 of President Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim amidst the continuing secession struggle of Anjouan and Mohéli.

One group of separatists on Anjouan refuses to accept the April peace deal and favors full independence. Another faction prefers limited autonomy. Both groups cite neglect and discrimination by the central government on Grande Comore. The OAU in December threatened sanctions against Anjouan unless it accepted the peace accord, but hardliners rejected the ultimatum. Anjouan voted for self-determination in a 1997 referendum, repulsed an attempted invasion by the government, and then dissolved into violence as rival separatist groups took up arms against each other. The failure of hardliners to accept the April 1999 peace deal has led to victimization of Anjouanese residents on Grande Comore, which helped spark the April 30 coup. Fighting erupted again on Anjouan in September when hardliners forced their moderate rivals off the island.

Separatists on Mohéli have also declared independence, but appear more willing to compromise. Mayotte Island, the fourth island of the Comorian archipelago, voted to remain a French overseas territory in a 1974 referendum and today enjoys a far higher, French-subsidized standard of living.

Two mercenary invasions and 18 other coups and attempted coups have shaken the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros since independence in 1975. Ahmed Abdallah Abderrahman, the first president of the Comoros, was overthrown by an army coup shortly after independence. The French mercenary Bob Denard aided Abdallah's successful countercoup in 1978. With Denard's backing as head of the army and presidential guard, Abdallah was returned unopposed in 1978 and 1984 one-party show elections. In 1989, he was allegedly assassinated by his own troops on Denard's orders. Subsequent unrest drew French military intervention, and Denard fled the country.

In 1990, in the country's first contested elections, supreme court justice Said Mohamed Djohara won a six-year term as president. A September 1995 attempted coup by elements of the Comoros security forces, which were aided by foreign mercenaries and again led by Bob Denard, was reversed by French soldiers. President Djohar was flown into exile and not allowed to resume office. An interim government ruled for five months until President Taki was elected in 1996 in internationally monitored elections that were considered free and fair. France reestablished its military presence in 1996 at Taki's invitation. Divisive personal, clan, and inter-island rivalries persist.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Comorians exercised their constitutional right to change their government democratically in open elections for the first time in the 1996 parliamentary and presidential elections. Taki won the presidency in a runoff election with more than 60 percent of the vote. A new constitution, adopted in an October 1996 referendum, increased the role of Islamic law and reduced local autonomy, which had helped to spark the Anjouan rebellion. The conservative Islamic main opposition party also held several seats in the national assembly. The new military government dissolved the national assembly and suspended the constitution. In November 1999, however, Assoumani appointed a prime minister and invited the spectrum of political parties to join him in forming a government. Anjouan held its own legislative elections in August 1999. Secessionists won all the seats in voting that was marked by some intimidation and a low turnout.

The Comorian legal system is based on Islamic law and remnants of the French legal code. Islam is the official state religion. Non-Muslims are permitted to practice, but not proselytize. The largely independent judiciary is headed by a supreme court. Most minor disputes are settled by village elders or a civilian court of first instance. Harsh prison conditions are marked by severe overcrowding and the lack of sanitation, medical attention, and proper diet. The Comoros Human Rights Association operates in a restrained manner reportedly because its civil-servant members fear that strong criticism of the government could cost them their jobs.

Freedoms of expression and association are not constitutionally guaranteed. The semiofficial weekly Al-Watwan and several private newspapers sharply critical of the government are published in the capital. All, however, are believed to exercise extensive self-censorship. A few private television and radio stations operate without overt governmental interference. Transmissions from French-controlled Mayotte are easily received, and some people have access to satellite and other international broadcasting. Foreign publications are readily available.

A group of young journalists opposed to the independence movement began broadcasting from Radio Ushababi in June 1999 on Anjouan. They have suffered persistent harassment from administrative authorities and security forces, including summonings and interrogations. They have also been physically threatened on a number of occasions by separatist militiamen. On August 9 the station was forced to suspend broadcasting because of security threats. In 1997 the same group of journalists was forced to cease publishing the newspaper Ushababi because of similar pressure.

Women possess constitutional protections despite the influence of Islamic law. In practice, however, they enjoy little political or economic power and have far fewer opportunities for education or salaried employment. Economic hardship has forced more and more young girls, known as mpambe, into domestic servitude. They receive room and board but little or no pay.

Trade unions and strikes are permitted, but collective bargaining is rare in the country's small formal sector. Comorians are among the world's poorest people, and the ongoing secessionist crisis has further damaged an already tenuous, agriculture-based economy. Remittances from the large overseas Comorian community sustain many families. The country relies heavily on foreign aid.