The targeted review mission of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) on unconstitutional changes of government (UCG) ended in Moroni, Union of Comoros, this Friday October 21st, 2022, after the restitution of the preliminary findings by the Head of Mission Dr Ousmane DIALLO to the President of the Republic of the Union of the Comoros, H.E.M Azali Assoumani. The Targeted Review took place from 10 to 20 October 2022. The APRM Targeted Review Mission on UCG is undertaken as part of the Africa Governance Report which is being drafted by the APRM in collaboration with members of the Africa Governance Architecture Platform ( AGA) and presented every two (2) years to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union during its ordinary sessions. It is also carried out in accordance with the decision of the 16th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government held in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The Assembly mandated the APRM and AGA to focus the third edition of the Biennial Africa Governance Report (AGR 23) to be presented to the Assembly in February 2023 on issues related to UCG on the continent with a view to determine the causes and to propose possible lasting solutions.Although not a member of the APRM, the Union of the Comoros is among the countries that have volunteered to undergo this targeted Review in order to share their experiences with other countries on the continent.
The methodology used by the Mission to examine the drivers of unconstitutional changes of government is a governance gap analysis tool developed by the APRM. This research methodology mainly considered the underlying factors leading to UCG such as popular uprisings and military interventions, human rights violations, disruption of constitutional order and state legitimacy, the integrity of democratic elections, economic governance and public sector management.
During the ten (10) days of the targeted review, the mission had group consultation meetings with all the different stakeholders of the Comorian society, particularly: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of key sectoral ministries, Independent National Institutions (CNDHL, CENI, CNPA), deputies of the Assembly of the Union, women's associations (Women Leader for Peace, Women in Politics, etc.), the Judiciary, Development Partners, Governors of the Islands of Grande Comore, as well as Moheli and Anjouan, local elected officials (Mayors) in the three islands, national and island civil society organizations, the private sector , representatives of religious Notability, Media, representatives of the various political parties (those of the presidential movement as well as those of the Opposition), the Maore Committee, the M17 Movement and the Committee of Elders.
At the end of the mission, the delegation was received by the President of the Republic H.E.M Azali Assoumi. During this visit to present the preliminary results of the report, the head of the delegation, Dr. Ousman Diallo, after thanking the President of the Republic for the warm welcome and expressing his gratitude on behalf of the delegation, explained, in a few points, the major observations of the mission. H.E. Mr. Azali Assoumani, in return, did not fail to reiterate his satisfaction with the arrival of the delegation for this targeted review mission, and was delighted to know that the various stakeholders had indeed participated in the discussion groups with the mission. He also ensured the mission of the implementation of the recommendations once the final report is submitted to the Government of the Union of the Comoros.
The delegation was satisfied with the commitment of the government authorities and remains optimistic that the Union of the Comoros will soon join the Mechanism, as reiterated by the President of the Republic of the Union of Comoros, H.E.M. Azali Assoumani.
