Comoros election officials began counting ballots late Sunday after a tense three-way presidential run-off poll featuring the current vice president and a former coup leader who ruled the country for seven years. The day of voting was marred by a number of incidents notably on Anjouan, one of the three islands which make up the Indian Ocean archipelago. Results in the race to succeed outgoing President Ikililou Dhoinine are not expected before Wednesday. The second round of the presidential race comes after Vice President Mohamed Ali Soilihi — known as Mamadou — won the disputed first round in February with 17.88 percent of the vote.
The two other contenders are governor of Grande Comore island Mouigni Baraka, who garnered 15.62 percent in the first round, and 1999 coup leader Colonel Azali Assoumani, who took 15.10 percent.
Nineteen of the 25 candidates who stood in the first round rejected the outcome and demanded a recount, but the Constitutional Court ruled against them, upholding the results.
Second-round voting began just after 7:00 am (0400 GMT) on Sunday and Interior Minister Mohamed Elhad Abbas said “all the conditions for a transparent vote are in place”, but conceded that despite security measures “you can feel a definite tension”.
Full Article: Comoros votes in tense presidential run-off election | Daily Mail Online.