1989 Comorian constitutional referendum
1989 Comorian constitutional referendum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Referendum on allowing Ahmed Abdallah to run for a third term and creating the position of PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date | 5 November 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A constitutional referendum was held in the Comoros on 5 November 1989. The proposed amendments to the constitution would allow incumbent President Ahmed Abdallah to run for a third term,[1] as well as creating the post of Prime Minister.
The official result was a 92.5 percent majority in favor of the amendments proposed by Abdallah.[2][1] This created "the conditions for a life presidency," warned one opposition leader.[1] Voting was marked by manipulation by the government.[1] Opposition groups reported that polling places lacked private voting booths, government officials blocked the entry of opposition poll watchers, and the army and police removed ballot boxes before voting ended.[1] Reaction to these abuses was unusually angry.[1] In Njazidja voters smashed ballot boxes rather than have them carted away by the army; the governor's office in Nzwani was set on fire, and a bomb was found outside the home of the minister of finance in Moroni.[1] More than 100 people were arrested following the referendum, and in subsequent weeks the international media described a deteriorating situation in the islands; Abdallah claimed that France "authorizes terrorism in the Comoros," and leaders of the banned opposition questioned the legitimacy of the referendum in public statements.[1]
On 26 November Abdallah was killed during a coup led by Said Mohamed Djohar.
Results
Choice | Votes | % |
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For | 240,281 | 92.5 |
Against | 19,500 | 7.5 |
Invalid/blank votes | – | |
Total | 259,781 | 100 |
Registered voters/turnout | 265,222 | 97.95 |
Source: African Elections Database |