Vote Counting Underway In Comoros Poll

Counting of vote is underway in Comoros following poll marred by allegations of fraud and delays in some polling stations.

Voting in presidential and regional elections took place on Sunday and more than 330,000 voters were registered.

Incumbent President Azali Assoumani is facing five challengers for his bid for a fourth term.

Opposition candidates alleged instances of ballot stuffing in favor of Mr. Assoumani and of closing of polling before the official time, the Reuters news agency reported.

Mr. Assoumani’s campaign team has denied the allegations.

The preliminary results will be released within a week, the electoral body Ceni said.

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If none of the six candidates secures more than 50% of the votes, the two candidates with the most votes will head to a runoff election on 25 February.

Earlier on Sunday, Assoumani told reporters after voting that he hoped for victory in the first round.

The former army officer came to power in a coup in 1999. He has since won three elections and has served as the chair of the African Union for the past year.

He won the 2019 election with 60% of the vote, breaching the 50% mark required to avoid a run-off. Critics say since then his government has cracked down on dissent, an accusation it denies.

Comoros changed its constitution in June 2018 to remove a requirement that the presidency rotate among its three main islands every five years. This allowed Assoumani to seek re-election.

Provisional results are expected on Friday, according to the election commission.