Parliament in Moroni has thrown his bid to bypass the legislature and validate his candidature with a presidential decree.

After surviving more than two dozen coups, it’s not surprising that Comores developed  an arcane system of government  strictly limiting presidential terms and rotating the office between the three main islands of the archipelago.

President Azali Assoumani believed he overturned these with a referendum win four months ago.

But parliament is having none of it. 

21 of the 33 Comoran MPs defeated a bid by Assoumani to bypass the legislature ahead of the election next year.

Unless he can devise another scheme, he will not be eligible to contest that poll and stay in office until 2025.

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It’s torn by protests on the island of Anjouan against President Azali Assoumani determination to cling to power beyond his mandate of 2021.

The Comoros have had at least 20 coups or attempted coups since breaking from France in 1968.

A power-sharing agreement brokered by South Africa in 2003 has the presidency alternating  between the three main islands Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli.

President Azali Assouani has sought to override this with a referendum last June granting him the power to seek two more terms at the helm.

The opposition’s  declared this  illegal and supports the demonstrators blocking roads, stoning cars and clashing with police.

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