An upcoming congress on the Comoros, to be held on Friday in Pretoria, South Africa, hopes to end the recent power struggle between the semi-autonomous islands and the federal government. The South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma, will host and chair the forum on the Comoros in her capacities as chairwoman of the African Union (AU) Executive Council of Ministers and Coordinator of Countries of the region, her office said in a statement. The forum will be attended by the presidents of the three semi-autonomous islands - Abdou Soulé El Bak of Grande Comores; Mohamed Said Fazul of Mohéli; and Colonel Mohamed Bacar of d’Anjouan. The three are also vice-presidents of the Union of Comores. Representatives of the AU Commission would also be present, Zuma's office said. However, Comoros Union President Azali Assoumani was absent from the list of delegates expected in Pretoria. "The Comoros Forum will focus on recent developments in the Comores and steps to be taken to enable the country to hold democratic local elections as soon as possible. In addition, the finalisation of the constitutional process will be discussed," the South African foreign ministry said. A source close to the process told IRIN on Wednesday "there's been some difference of opinion in interpretation of the constitution that they have agreed on. The islands feel entitled to certain powers and status, [while] the federal government disagrees with them on certain issues. We're trying to expose them to different opinions here in South Africa and show them how [our] parliament works - they'll have discussions with constitutional experts and so on". He described the power struggle in the Comoros as a "disagreement over the authority of certain ministries - it's not so much a political difference [it's more] a difference in interpretation of the constitution". The "difference in interpretation of the constitution" had developed into a contest between Assoumani and El Bak for control of key government ministries since last year's devolution process. In the process the three islands of Moheli, Anjouan and Grande Comore assumed authority over most of their own affairs, under the leadership of their own presidents. The Union government in the capital, Moroni, controls defence, economic policy and foreign affairs. The differences in constitutional interpretation were highlighted in April by a strike on Grande Comore. Traders took to the streets to protest over paying double taxation, as both the island and Union governments claimed the right to tax them.
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