Comoros: A new dawn

It may be recalled that only ten of the Muslim countries held free and fair elections in the past eighteen month or so, and Islamists won in seven including such important countries as Iran, Iraq and the Palestine, while secular candidates or parties have won only in three, namely, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Albania. The remaining countries like Azerbaijan, Chad, Kazakhstan and Egypt where the elections were not free and fair, the incumbent dictators claimed victories.

The Union of Comoros Islands, a holiday paradise with picture-postcard beaches, is desperately poor, thanks to a history of political violence that, at times, left the country teetering on the brink of disintegration. The triple problems of military coups, secessionist sentiments in the constituent islands, and extreme poverty reinforced each other. There were, as noted, 19 military coups, four of them successful, in the brief history of 30 years as an independent nation.

The descendants of Arab traders, Malay immigrants, and African peoples, contribute to the islands' complex ethnic mix. At the time of independence, three islands voted for independence and the fourth Mayotte decided to remain part of France in 1975. So the Union consists of three islands, Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli in an uneasy cohabitation. In fact, the latter two declared unilateral independence following a violent conflict in 1997. In an effort to bring the breakaway islands back into the fold, a new constitution in 2001 granted the three islands their own presidents and greater autonomy. The Union of the Comoros, under the overall leadership of Azali Assoumani, retained control of security and financial matters.

The presidency of the Union rotates between the three islands every four years. The presidents of the three semi-autonomous islands are vice presidents of the Union of Comoros. A 33-member national assembly sits on Grande Comore. The incumbent, Azali Assoumani, represented Grande Comore. His successor had to come from Anjouan, so all the three candidates this time around were from this island. A president from Moheli is set to take office in 2010.

Mr Sambi is poised to become a pioneer in three ways; the first civilian head of state after a peaceful transition, the first person from Anjouan, and the first ever cleric, to become the President of Comoros. Mr Sambi, 48, a former MP and a Sunni Muslim cleric, a businessman with a passion for basketball, campaigned on promises to fight unemployment and corruption. Being a relative newcomer to politics, he was himself untainted by corruption. He is a charismatic public speaker, who knows how to work a crowd. After returning from his studies in Iran, he set up a political party - the National Front for Justice - but he soon left politics to concentrate on business, while still preaching. The father of seven owns factories which produce mattresses, bottled water and perfume - a key Comoros export. He lives above a shop called The House of Mattresses in the Anjouan capital, Mutsamudu. He also set up and owns the private television station called Ulezi (education).

The main challenges before him are to promote a democratic culture in his country marked by the supremacy of constitution, rule of law, and respect to equal rights. He has dismissed charges that he is an extremist and has said that his country is not ready to become an Islamic republic. He has vowed not to outlaw the famous Comoran lavish wedding ceremonies or to force women to cover their hair. He has promised to be loyal to the constitution so that military coups and violent secessionist movements in the islands becomes a part of history.

The second main challenge for him is economic. The people of the Comoros are among the poorest in Africa and are heavily dependent on foreign aid. Natural resources are in short supply and the islands' chief exports - vanilla, cloves and perfume essence - are prone to price fluctuations. Money sent home by Comorans living abroad is an important source of income. The President needs to adopt policies that will strengthen investor confidence and attract foreign tourists.

The nation has seen too much violence, hatred and rivalry. The former French mercenary Col. Bob Denard, who remained behind-the-scenes king maker for too long, assassinating and replacing presidents in palace coups so often, is no more on the stage. Now it is incumbent on the new President to open a new chapter of civilian supremacy over military which is the best way to foster a sense of a unified Comoran nationhood.

The writer is the Middle East Editor of Cambridge Review of International Affairs and a widely read analyst on politics, governance and human rights in the Muslim world.