MORONI, Jan 15 (AGCNewsNet) –- The ruling party in Comoros has emerged victorious in parliamentary elections held on Sunday, securing 28 out of 33 seats, according to the Independent National Election Commission (CENI). However, opposition parties have swiftly rejected the results, alleging electoral fraud and irregularities.

The main opposition, the Juwa party, boycotted the election, citing concerns over its fairness and transparency. Juwa’s Secretary General, Hassane Ahmed el-Barwane, condemned the election as a “farce,” accusing the ruling party of ballot stuffing and fraudulent practices.

Abdallah Mohamed, spokesperson for the opposition factions that participated, also voiced concerns, claiming that their representatives were expelled from polling stations for protesting ballot irregularities. “The opposition’s accusations of fraud are unfounded. If they feel wronged, they must bring the evidence to court,” responded Elections Minister Fakridine Mahamoud.

Following the election, President Azali Assoumani, whose leadership is often criticized by opponents for authoritarian tendencies, dismissed the fraud claims. Assoumani, whose opponents suspect he is grooming his eldest son to succeed him in 2029, cast his vote amidst mounting tensions.

Comoros, a small island nation with a population of about 800,000, has a history of political instability and attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. These latest elections have added to the nation’s ongoing political strife, with the opposition denouncing the results and calling for further investigation.

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