Background 2008 invasion of Anjouan

1 background

1.1 tensions rise
1.2 military build-up
1.3 pre-invasion incidents

background
tensions rise

the comoran federal government delayed holding of election on anjouan due alleged irregularities , intimidation, bacar nevertheless printed ballots , held election in june, claiming landslide victory of 90 percent.

military build-up

in march 2008, hundreds of comoran government troops began assembling on mohéli, closer anjouan larger island, grande comore. sudan , senegal provided total of 750 troops, while libya offered logistical support operation. in addition, 500 tanzanian troops due arrive after. france, former colonial power, assisted operation airlifting au troops area.

vows of resistance self-declared president of anjouan met stern words au envoy, saying overwhelmed...i afraid if tries that, end of him physically, if necessary. in interview irin, mohamed bacar said: [national president ahmed abdallah mohamed] sambi not know concerning military, if had advise him s not solution. first time [1997] army came kicked them out. second time [may 2007] army came kicked them out. means if try come third time kick them out.

anjouan promised hold new elections in may 2008, south african president thabo mbeki supported way resolve crisis. mbeki once more tried stop invasion on march 14, au disregarded proposal , invasion went ahead.

pre-invasion incidents

on march 3, 2008, fuel ship supplying comoros army caught fire in port of comoros capital, moroni. cause of fire unknown. on march 11, armed incursion occurred on islands 3 members of anjouan militia loyal president bacar captured , taken mohéli interrogation. diplomacy continued intervention south african president thabo mbeki attempted delay planned au invasion distinct displeasure of comorian government. understood mbeki spoke head of au, tanzanian president jakaya kikwete, phone on march 14 stall attack, intended depose mohamed bacar.

location of anjouan in comoros

despite intervention, fishing boat soldiers left moheli anjouan on march 14. there conflicting statements both sides, comoran , au military sources reporting fishing boat carrying around fifty soldiers federal government of comoros landed in southern anjouan , attempted capture police station. in later statement comoran chief of staff salim mohamed revised information , said reconnaissance team of 10 soldiers landed on march 14 in south of anjouan island , reached southern town of domoni. 2 soldiers wounded, federal source said. target of operation domoni police station in anjouan free political prisoners, said source.

the troops retreated mohéli , returned anjouan on sunday march 16 rescue 2 wounded soldiers. according military source 1 federal soldier suffered arm injury , had minor foot injury. same sources reported during course of operation twenty people in domoni died result of comoran , au bombardment of anjouanese positions. these facts disputed anjouan administration insisted 1 of 2 comoran soldiers had attacked anjouanais positions in domoni on march 15 had in fact died , police station not captured. stated comoran , au forces had been ambushed anjouanais forces during stages of incursion @ domoni , had been forced withdraw hopeless situation,

contrary republican mission national army of development (comoran army) devotes taking innocent citizens hostages wrong anjouanese , not sambist. in addition fishermen kidnapped @ marahare , mromhouli, second aggression [by] national army of development dissident forces supported trawler provided iran failed. elements of [anjouanese] gendarmerie retaliated in self-defense, wounding 2 of gangster attackers including 1 lethally.

france s role in crisis brought question when, on march 19, french police helicopter on unauthorised, clandestine mission french-administered comoro island of mayotte crashed in sea close city of sima on anjouan. reports officials in comoros said no 1 hurt in crash. helicopter owned france s mayotte-based air , border police force. critics allege helicopter involved in attempt bring bacar french exile, , bacar holding out long because protected french. lieutenant colonel salimou mohamed amiri, comoros government spokesman, declared:

we don t know doing. can imagine rumors. government of comoros did not allow them come. not authorized ... french said sent other air , naval assets pick crew.

the french military had transported 300 tanzanian troops , 30 tons of freight grand comore between march 14 , march 16. according reports french diplomat said france ready transport senegalese troops well, had not yet done so. diplomatic source said france remains favorable dialogue on condition bacar accepts presence of african troops @ port , airport of anjouan.