allAfrica.com: Comoros: On the Edge of a 'Military Solution' (Page 1 of 2)

In line with a long tradition of foreign military intervention, official and clandestine, international forces are moving in to help the Union government of Comoros re-establish control over the renegade island of Anjouan and save the fragile three-island state in the Indian Ocean from falling apart.

After an African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council meeting on 20 February, the African body revised its stance on the political conflict in the Union of Comoros, moving from fruitless negotiation efforts to diffuse the conflict to backing the Union government's position of using military force. Four AU countries - Libya, Sudan, Senegal and Tanzania - have promised troops and military support.

"The meeting reiterated AU's commitment to the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Comoros," and "mandated the African Union Electoral and Security Assistance Mission (MAES) to the Comoros to deploy in Anjouan in order to facilitate the restoration of the authority of the Union in Anjouan," said an AU Communiqué.

The gathering "agreed on practical military and security measures aimed at supporting the decision taken by the Government of the Union of the Comoros to restore its authority in Anjouan."

A standoff between the authorities on Anjouan and the other two islands, Grande Comore and Moheli, has lingered since individual island elections were held in June 2007.

The archipelago's complex electoral system provides for a semi-autonomous government and president for each of the islands - Anjouan, Grand Comore and Moheli - with a rotating presidency for the over-arching Union government.

Neither Anjouan's self-proclaimed president, Mohamed Bacar, nor the Comoros Union government, which is demanding a fresh poll, is prepared to back down.

The AU said it would send a military and security evaluation team as well as a planning team to Comoros to make final arrangements.

Increasing international involvement

France has offered to transport the AU troops to the Indian Ocean archipelago. "We confirm France's readiness to provide support to the Tanzanian and Senegalese troops for their transport to the Comoros, that is, to the island of Grande Comoro or Moheli, but not to Anjouan," Agence France-Presse quoted French foreign ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani as saying.

"We want to show our support to the AU and to its determination to preserve the integrity and unity of the Comoros." The former colonial power's involvement came after reports of increasing anti-French sentiment in the former colony, amid rumours of possible French support for Bacar.

"There have been some protests and slogans against France painted on walls - some people might be suspicious that France was supporting Bacar and many expected France at least to raise its voice against what is happening on Anjouan," Union government spokesman Abdourahime Said Bakar told IRIN.

After more than 130 years of colonial rule, independence from France in 1975 led to three decades of political instability marked by 19 successful and attempted coups in Comoros.

The notorious French mercenary, Bob Denard, who died recently, orchestrated four of the coups and played a prominent role in Comoran political struggles, ousting and replacing presidents over the years until his final attempt was thwarted by France in 1995.

The first time the army came we kicked them out. The second time the army came we kicked them out. That means that if they try to come a third time we will kick them out

The Union government has acquired two Ukrainian helicopters and crews to back up its planned military operation, because "we only have one helicopter pilot" according to Said Bakar. Hundreds of Union government troops have been assembling on Moheli, which is closer to Anjouan than the larger island Grand Comore, and the helicopters would transport troops and equipment and evacuate the wounded, he said.

The Union government will need all the help it can get: most experts acknowledge that Bacar's forces are better trained, better equipped and more numerous. Attempts by the Union government in 1997 and 2007 to establish control of the island by force failed.

In an earlier interview with IRIN, Mohamed Bacar dismissed the threat of armed Union forces landing on Anjouan. "[National president Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed] Sambi does not know anything concerning the military, but if I had to advise him I would say that it's not the solution. The first time [1997] the army came we kicked them out. The second time [May 2007] the army came we kicked them out. That means that if they try to come a third time we will kick them out."

Earlier this week, the AU extended sanctions against Anjouan's leadership for the third time, but the Comoros Union government strongly rejected the move, claiming that sanctions - a maritime embargo and asset freeze - were having no impact on Bacar and were only prolonging the crisis.

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