Zanzibar political parties move to resolve impasse

Earlier this month, the CCM and CUF announced they would sign a reconciliation agreement to resolve the political impasse in Zanzibar. The measures agreed include reform of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission, promotion of human rights and good governance, reform of the judiciary, and the immediate restoration of normal political life in Zanzibar through dialogue rather than incitement of ethnic hatred, hostility and political intolerance. Zanzibar's CCM, under Salmin Amour who is seeking a second term as president of the isles in the 2000 elections, claimed a narrow victory over the CUF in the 1995 elections, but western donors questioned the result. The dispute led to a wave of conflicts, including the opposition party's refusal to attend parliament sessions and the arrest of 18 of its members on treason charges.