Foreign donors pledge US$200m for Comoros

GRAND BAIE – Foreign donors have pledged US$200 million (N$1,3 billion) to help the impoverished Indian Ocean Comoros Islands on the path to stability before elections next year, South African President Thabo Mbeki said late on Thursday.

Desperate to break the cycle of coups and inter-island strife that has crippled the chain of islands for three decades, the Comoros had appealed for US$250 million to fund its three-year development and poverty reduction plan. “I am satisfied, as I think the pledges made have been very good,” Mbeki told journalists after co-chairing a meeting of international donors with Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.Mbeki said he was confident that political instability in Comoros was in the past.The meeting brought together 200 delegates including representatives from the European Union (EU), the United Nations, the Arab League, the African Union (AU) and Bretton Woods institutions.France has pledged the lion’s share of the funding, donating US$77 million.The EU pledged US$40 million, the World Bank US$10 million, and other countries including Mauritius, South Africa, India and China offering around US$1 million each.Part of the money will be channelled into the island’s main economic sectors of agriculture and fishing and promoting new sectors like tourism.Some will be used for health and education projects and to build up government institutions.Since independence from France in 1975, the islands have been plagued by a series of attempted coups which have hampered development and left much of the 600 000 population living in abject poverty.Following an elaborate reconciliation process, Comorians agreed on a formula to share power between a national government and the trio of islands – Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli – in a 2001 constitution.The constitution prescribes a rotational presidency among the islands which means current President Azaly Assoumani from Grande Comore must move aside in April elections to a candidate from Anjouan.”It is critical that those elections take place on time, that they are credible, that they are free and fair,” Mbeki said.While Azaly has repeatedly said he will step down, opponents remain sceptical, recalling the bloodless coup he staged in 1999 and his failure to heed a pledge accede to an elected candidate.-Nampa-Reuters”I am satisfied, as I think the pledges made have been very good,” Mbeki told journalists after co-chairing a meeting of international donors with Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.Mbeki said he was confident that political instability in Comoros was in the past.The meeting brought together 200 delegates including representatives from the European Union (EU), the United Nations, the Arab League, the African Union (AU) and Bretton Woods institutions.France has pledged the lion’s share of the funding, donating US$77 million.The EU pledged US$40 million, the World Bank US$10 million, and other countries including Mauritius, South Africa, India and China offering around US$1 million each.Part of the money will be channelled into the island’s main economic sectors of agriculture and fishing and promoting new sectors like tourism.Some will be used for health and education projects and to build up government institutions.Since independence from France in 1975, the islands have been plagued by a series of attempted coups which have hampered development and left much of the 600 000 population living in abject poverty.Following an elaborate reconciliation process, Comorians agreed on a formula to share power between a national government and the trio of islands – Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli – in a 2001 constitution.The constitution prescribes a rotational presidency among the islands which means current President Azaly Assoumani from Grande Comore must move aside in April elections to a candidate from Anjouan.”It is critical that those elections take place on time, that they are credible, that they are free and fair,” Mbeki said.While Azaly has repeatedly said he will step down, opponents remain sceptical, recalling the bloodless coup he staged in 1999 and his failure to heed a pledge accede to an elected candidate.-Nampa-Reuters