Progress on reconciliation

The Comoros Indian Ocean islands, unsettled by years of separatist tensions, have made "important strides" in reconciliation, diplomatic sources told IRIN. The basis for the settlement is the Fomboni agreement, signed in February last year, which grants a large degree of autonomy to the three islands of the archipelago within a new political union. The constitutional changes were agreed in a referendum at the end of December. But, as an indication of the political volatility of the Comoros - and residual separatist tendencies embraced by some politicians - a botched mercenary-led coup attempt almost scuppered the Fomboni process. A group of 13 mercenaries, believed to have been en route for the main island of Grand Comore, landed on the third and smallest island of Moheli on 19 December. They were routed, however, in a series of skirmishes. According to sources on Grand Comore, "barring a last minute change of heart" by military strongman Colonel Assoumani Azali or the authorities on the separatist island of Anjouan, a tentative transition formula and electoral timetable has been agreed. The Comoran government was dissolved on Monday and a government of national unity is due to be installed on 18 January at the latest. Political parties have been requested to propose nominations for the new administration. Azali is expected to make a statement on whether he intends to lead the transitional arrangement, and therefore be barred under the constitution from standing as a presidential candidate in elections for the union presidency on 14 April. The following is the electoral timetable for the Comoros. 20-30 January: Finalisation of islands' constitutions and verification of their conformity to the Union's constitution; 1-15 February: Submission of candidatures for the Presidency of the Union to the Electoral Commission; 6-11 February: Adoption of the islands' constitutions by a Follow-up Committee; 12-22 February: Submission of candidatures for the executive posts in the islands to the Electoral Commission; 16 February-8 March: Campaign for primaries for the Presidency of the Union and for the referendum on the islands' constitutions; 10 March: Referendum on the islands' constitutions and organisation of the primaries for the Presidency of the Union. These primaries are limited to Grande Comore that has been granted the first turn for the Union's presidency; 11-29 March: Campaign for the islands' elections; 31 March: First round of islands' executive bodies elections; 7 April: Second round of islands' executive bodies elections; 8-12 April: Campaigning for the Union's presidency 14 April: Union's presidential election For background see www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=13397&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=COMOROS