Geneva, In response to the escalating tensions in Comoros following the recent presidential election, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on the authorities to ensure the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest. He also urged all parties to exercise restraint in the face of growing unrest.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the situation in Comoros has become increasingly volatile, with reports of hundreds of mostly young protesters taking to the streets of the capital, Moroni. Security forces have used tear gas to disperse these demonstrations, raising concerns about the handling of peaceful protests.

High Commissioner Türk emphasized the necessity for the authorities in Comoros to create a safe environment where all citizens, including opposition members, can freely express their opinions and exercise their right to peaceful protest. He condemned the use of violence, referencing recent looting in Moroni and arson attacks on public buildings, but stressed the importance of allowing peaceful demonstrations to continue unimpeded.

The High Commissioner expressed alarm over reports of arrests and the use of tear gas against peaceful protesters, including an incident involving women in Moheli. He noted that Sunday’s presidential election occurred in a context of diminishing civic and democratic space, marked by arbitrary detentions, alleged enforced disappearances, and a long-standing ban on peaceful protests and public political gatherings.

Türk called on the government of Comoros to foster a climate of democracy and pluralism, emphasizing the need for dialogue and an end to human rights violations. He expressed concern over the continued repression and lack of pluralism in Comoros, urging the authorities to release political prisoners detained arbitrarily, thoroughly investigate violations of civil and political rights in the pre-electoral period, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.