1989 Comorian constitutional referendum

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.

1989 Comorian constitutional referendum

5 November 1989
Referendum on allowing Ahmed Abdallah to run for a third term and creating the position of PM
Location	Comoros
Results
Response Votes % Yes 240,281 92.49% No 19,500 7.51% Valid votes 259,781 100.00% Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00% Total votes 259,781 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 265,222 97.95%

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	%
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

References

1. Metz, Helen Chapin (1995). Indian Ocean : five island countries (3rd ed.). Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 163. ISBN 0-8444-0857-3. OCLC 32508646. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. Elections in the Comoros African Elections Database