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Previously, Azali had directed a coup d'état, had led the Comoros between 1999 and 2006 and had been re-elected in 2016. By Youssouf IBRAHIM (AFP / File)
Police in the Comoros arrested 12 women on Thursday, activists said after taking to the streets to protest the re-election of President Azali Assoumani in rigged polls.
The opposition categorically rejected Azali's victory with 60.77 percent of the vote in the polls on Sunday, while the state of anger threatened to unleash a new political crisis on the archipelago.
Azali, who had previously led a coup d'etat, led the country between 1999 and 2006 and was re-elected in 2016, leaving his 12 runaway rivals to flee.
Observers and community groups questioned the credibility of the vote.
Polling stations were ransacked, the polls filled by police and observers were prevented from monitoring the integrity of the vote, according to several witnesses.
Those arrested on Thursday were part of a march of about 100 women to the Supreme Court where they planned to appeal for the results to be overturned.
The armed police dispersed them and 12 protesters were arrested for unspecified crimes.
"We are tired of what is happening, we wanted to send a memorandum to the Supreme Court, but we could not do it," Samoa Abdulmadjid, organizer of the march, told AFP. .
"The police arrived and started to gather people."
Opposition parties in the coup-prone Indian Ocean country opted not to appeal the result of the vote but instead called for new elections to be held in the country. soon as possible.
Interior Minister Mohamed "Kiki" Daoudou rejected criticism of the conduct of the polls and said "it is not the street that governs the country".
For months, the opposition accused Azali of behaving like a dictator.
Azali organized the poll after a referendum organized by the Comorians, boycotted by the opposition, in favor of extending the presidential term of office from five years to two.
According to critics, he could theoretically rule until 2029 and several opposition figures were arrested at the time of the referendum.
The change upset the fragile balance of power established in 2001, which aimed to end the separatist crises on the islands of Anjouan and Moheli and put an end to an endless cycle of coups d'etat.
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