EASF and COMESA in Fact Finding Mission in Comoros

The Eastern Africa Standby Force in conjunction with the Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa (COMESA) successfully conducted a joint fact-finding mission to the Union of Comoros from 8th to 14th July 2018 prior to the constitutional referendum scheduled for 29thJuly 2018. This was

also an opportunity for the Director of the EASF to pay a courtesy visit to the President of the Union of Comoros.

The main purpose of the mission was to seek an in-depth understanding of the issues that have led to the national referendum. To this end, the team consulted widely with various stakeholders among them government officials, political parties, opposition leaders, civil society organizations, community leaders and religious leaders on a number of emerging issues in this area. The team sort thereafter, to engage with the Government on possible ways of building consensus on emerging issues surrounding the referendum.

Among the high profile individuals with whom the team held discussions included the President of the Union of Comoros, H.E. AzaliAssoumani, the Governors of Grand Comores and Anjouan, Ministers, the Coordinator of the Opposition in the island of Anjouan, Dr. Kamal IssoufIssouf and many others.

After successful consultations and discussions, EASF and COMESA were invited to conduct a Joint Election Observer Mission to the Union of Comoros during the referendum on 29th July 2018.

The week-long mission was led by the Director of EASF, Dr Abdillahi Omar Bouh, Ms. Hope Kivenge, a member of COMESA Committee of Elders from Uganda and the Head of EASF's Peace Operations’ Department, Brigadier Albert Kiprop Kendagor. The mission leaders were supported by technical teams from COMESA and EASF.

Photo Gallery: EASF and COMESA in Fact Finding Mission in Comoros