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afrol News, 19 December - An invasion by unknown forces on the Comoran minor island of Moheli has been linked to the United States led war against terrorism. This is however denied by both Comoran and US government officials. At least four people were killed in the clashes between assumedly foreign invaders and government troops today of the Comoran island of Moheli. The invading troops this night had taken control of the island's police station and cut off telephone connections and electricity. Initial reports that the troops invading Moheli were English speaking, and including some "12 to 20 white people", led to the quick conclusion they were US troops involved in a strike against terrorist cells. Information spread by the plotters, Comoran military leader Colonel Azali Assoumani was associated to the terrorist group of Osama bin Laden, al Qa'ida, also pointed in that direction. The invaders of Moheli made a statement assuring they were working with the US Army. "Our President is working with the terrorists. We are here to protect ourselves," the statement said. It was however transmitted through the news agency AFP in perfect French, not English. However, Comoran officials "dismissed claims made by the attackers that they were US soldiers hunting for terrorists," the US governmental media 'Voice of America' today reported. "The US Embassy in Nairobi and the US Defence Department both said they had no knowledge of the incident in the Comoros." After initially taking control of Moheli this night, Comoran government troops have been sent from the main island Gran Comore (the only presently in government control), and fierce fighting immediately started. Two civilians and two of the armed men were killed, AFP reported. Government forces reportedly had retaken control of the gendarmerie headquarters this afternoon. The true identity of the invaders is still not known. However, the Comoros have suffered from a variety of coups and foreign mercenaries attempting to stage coups. Infamous French citizen Bob Denard has been involved in three attempted invasions.
The Comoros have experienced instability ever since independence from France in 1975. First, the prosperous island of Mayotte broke away and returned to French rule in distrust of the government on Gran Comore. In 1997, the island of Anjouan unliterary declared independence and won it in military terms. Anjouan independence has however not been recognised internationally, and a new Comoran Constitution, binding the three islands of Gran Comore, Anjouan and Moheli together in a confederation is to be voted on for Sunday 23 December - hopefully ending the Comoran civil war. The government in Gran Comore has discredited itself by an endless row of military coups - more than 20 since independence - and economic mismanagement. President Assoumani himself came to power in a military coup in 1999 and has made no attempt to rule through democratic institutions. According to diplomatic sources, the invasion on Moheli could be linked to the referendum to be held in four days. The electorate is to decide whether to approve or dismiss the new confederal Constitution, a rather unhappy solution for all islanders. To the Anjouanese, it means losing the independence they have fought for during four years, to the people of Gran Comore, it means giving into separatists and losing their political control of the archipelago. According to reports from Comoros, the 23 December referendum is to be arranged as planned, ignoring the Moheli fighting. A delegation from the Southern African Development Community has also confirmed that they "are determined to forge ahead with their plans to visit the Comoros" to observe the referendum. The South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, today stated he had noted the developments on Moheli "with serious concerns," and "unequivocally condemns this and any other attempt to seize power by unconstitutional means." It however has served to strengthen the resolve of the countries of the region "to continue with their efforts to help the people of the Comoros to bring about democracy, peace and stability," said Zuma.
Sources: Based on SA govt., press reports and afrol archives
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The Comoran Prime Minister, Hamada Madi
Boléro, today told the Reuters news agency he thinks the attackers are mercenaries trying to destabilise the government. The existence of fluently French speaking, white soldiers pointed to that
conclusion.
