The Comoros swore in President Azali Assoumani for his fourth term on Sunday, as he pledged to work for peace and rapidly grow the economy.
Assoumani, a 65-year-old former military ruler turned civilian president, first came to power in a coup in 1999, before handing over to civilians in 2006.
He returned to politics and won re-election in 2016. In January, he won a vote which his opponents said was marred by fraud, but the court dismissed as inadmissible lawsuits seeking its annulment.
One person was killed and at least 25 injured in violent protests that erupted in the country, a group of three islands off the coast of Mozambique, after the election body declared him re-elected to another five-year term with 63% of the vote.
Opposition leaders claimed the latest presidential poll was rigged, alleging instances of ballot stuffing and of voting being ended before the official closing time. The government denied the claims.
Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso and his counterparts from Madagascar, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and Angola attended the ceremony, which some spectators described as “dull”.
Peoplesmind