Riots in the aftermath of the electoral farce on the Comoros

Demonstrations erupted on Wednesday, a day after the electoral body declared Comoros President Azali Assoumani being the winner, giving him a fourth five-year term. There were broad accusations of fraudulence.

The army fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse protesters in Moroni, the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago with a population of about 800,000. The interior ministry announced a nighttime curfew throughout the country on Wednesday, but protesters were still on the streets in the north of Moroni in the early hours of Thursday.

Several roads in the capital have been barricaded and an unspecified number of protesters arrested. State forces have battled stone-throwing protesters in the streets. Buildings in the capital were vandalized, looted and burned, including the home of a minister. A car at the home of another minister was also burned and a national food depot burnt down during the protests. Internet services have been cut, WhatsApp calls have been blocked and mobile messages restricted to prevent demonstrators from communicating and sharing compromising images on social networks.

At least one person, a 21-year-old man has been killed, probably shot dead, and at least were 25 injured, including a seven-year-old, and some severely injured, according to reports.

Comoros has experienced several revolts, coups or attempted coups since the formal independence from France in 1975 and has close ties to the nearby French colony Mayotte due to vast migration.