AU delegation - recommendations but no solution

A senior official on Monday said although talks between African Union (AU) representatives and Comoros leaders last week were "fruitful", a resolution to the ongoing constitutional crisis in the archipelago had not been reached. "The meeting was held in a positive climate but it will take some time before we can agree to a workable solution to the current crisis. The different leaders are now considering proposals put forward by the AU delegation," the Comoros foreign affairs permanent secretary, Ismail Shaffi, told IRIN. Since last year's devolution process, which saw the islands - Moheli, Anjouan and Grande Comore - elect their own presidents and govern most of their own affairs, a power struggle has ensued between Union President Azali Assoumani and Grande Comore President Abdou Soule Elbak over the control of key government ministries. Shaffi said the AU delegation had recommended setting up a provisional customs council which would facilitate the fair distribution of revenue among the three islands. Tax collection has been the main point of disagreement between the Union government and those of the islands. Last month traders took to the streets to protest paying double taxation, as both the island and Union governments claimed the right to tax them. "Although the Union would take the main responsibility for the administration of islands' customs, representatives from the autonomous islands will also have significant input into how the customs are managed," Shaffi said. The AU recommended that during the lead-up to the country's legislative elections, the deployment of security forces should be a "joint decision" between the Union and the three islands. An election date has yet to be set. "There were concerns that the Union government would use the police and the army to influence the outcome of the elections but we have no intention to do that, and we are prepared to adhere to this recommendation," Shaffi said. Meanwhile, one analyst was less convinced and said the failure of the leaders to reach an agreement at the talks signalled a lack of political commitment to finding a resolution. Former politician Abdorahim Said Bacar said: "It's been a year since presidential elections and there still has not been any progress. People cannot understand why it is so difficult for the leaders to find a compromise. It is good that there have been declarations, but that has not translated into action." South Africa's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma led the AU delegation on a visit last week to the Comoros as part of efforts to help find a speedy resolution to the ongoing constitutional crisis.