2008 invasion of Anjouan
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| 2008 invasion of Anjouan | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Location of Anjouan in the Comoros | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Comoros Sudan Tanzania Senegal Libya (logistical support) France (logistical support)[1] |
 Anjouan | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
A.A. Sambi |
Mohamed Bacar | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~2,000 | ~500[2] | ||||||
The 2008 invasion of Anjouan (code-named Operation Democracy in Comoros)[3][4] that began on March 25, 2008 with an amphibious assault is led by the Comoros, backed by African Union forces including troops from Sudan, Tanzania, Senegal and logistical support from Libya. The objective of the invasion is to topple Mohamed Bacar's leadership in Anjouan, an island part of the Union of Comoros, which held local elections in defiance of the federal government and the African Union.
A French analyst said the African Union was hoping to win easily against Anjouan to earn some international prestige to offset the failures of its struggling peacekeeping missions in Sudan and Somalia.[5]
Background
Tensions rise
In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli declared their independence from the Union of Comoros. However, the islands were reunified as the Comoros again in 2002, a new constitution mandated the election of a President of Anjouan along with presidents for the other two islands and a federal president. Mohamed Bacar, who had lead the separatist government since 2001, was elected for a 5-year term as President of Anjouan. His term expired on 14 April 2007, and the President of the Assembly, Houmadi Caambi, became Acting President from April 15, 2007 to May 10, 2007.
Citing irregularities and intimidation in the run-up to voting, the African Union (AU) and the Union government postponed the polls on Anjouan, but the defiant island president Mohamed Bacar printed his own ballots, held elections anyway and claimed a landslide victory of 90 percent on 11 May 2007.[6] Comorian federal troops tried unsuccessfully to take control of Anjouan buildings and install a replacement president as mandated by a court in May 2007. Several soldiers died in those clashes.[7]
In October 2007, the African Union imposed travel sanctions on Anjouan's President Mohamed Bacar and other government officials and froze their foreign assets while calling for fresh elections. Additionally, a naval blockade of the island was implemented.[8] In February 2008, the Comoros rejected the African Union's extended sanctions against Anjouan and instead opted for a military solution.
Military build-up
In March 2008, hundreds of Union government troops began assembling on Moheli, which is closer to Anjouan than the larger island Grand Comore. Sudan and Senegal were expected to provide a total of 750 troops, while Libya has offered logistical support for the operation. In addition, 500 Tanzanian troops were due to arrive soon after.[2] [9] France, the former colonial power, has also assisted the operation by airlifting AU troops to the area.[1]
Vows of resistance from the self-declared president of Anjouan have been met with stern words from the African Union envoy, saying "He will be overwhelmed...I am afraid to say that if he tries to do that, it will be the end of him physically, if necessary."[2] However, most experts acknowledge that Bacar's forces are better trained, better equipped and more numerous. In an interview with IRIN, Mohamed Bacar dismissed the threat of armed Union forces landing on Anjouan. "[National president Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed] Sambi does not know anything concerning the military, but if I had to advise him I would say that it's not the solution. The first time [1997] the army came we kicked them out. The second time [May 2007] the army came we kicked them out. That means that if they try to come a third time we will kick them out."
Anjouan promised to hold new elections in May 2008, which South African president Thabo Mbeki supports as a way to resolve the crisis. Mbeki once more tried to stop the invasion on March 14, but the AU disregarded his proposal and the invasion went ahead.[10]
Pre-invasion incidents
On March 3, 2008 a fuel ship supplying the Comoros army caught fire in the port of Comoros' capital Moroni. The cause of the fire was unknown.[11] On March 11, an armed incursion occurred on the islands where three members of the Anjouan Militia loyal to President Bacar were captured and taken to Mohéli for interrogation.[9]
A fishing boat with around 50 soldiers left Moheli for Anjouan on March 14. Two soldiers were wounded, a federal source said. "The target of the operation was the Domoni police station in Anjouan so as to free political prisoners," said the source.[10][12]
A French police helicopter crashed on Anjouan during an unauthorised flight on March 19, officials in Comoros said, adding that no-one was hurt in the crash. The helicopter was owned by France's Mayotte-based air and border police force.[13] Critics allege the helicopter was involved in an attempt to bring Bacar into French exile, and that Bacar is only holding out so long because he is protected by the French.[14]
The invasion
On the morning of March 24, 2008, five boats full of AU soldiers left the port of Fomboni, capital of the island of Moheli.[4][15] Comoros helicopters dropped leaflets on Anjouan, saying a military assault was imminent and telling locals to stay at home, a source close to the military said. "The National Development Army informs all inhabitants that it will be in Anjouan in the coming days or, more likely, the coming hours."[5]
Colonel Mohamed Bacar has been spotted in the village of Sadanpoini where he is heading without doubt for a place to flee on board a kwassa (small canoe) towards Mayotte island, it seems, according to various sources, that he is dressed as a woman
— Abdourahim Said Bacar, Comoron Government Spokesman [16]
Defense chief of staff Mohamed Dosara said about 450 troops landed at dawn, taking the airport and entering the main town, Mutsamudu,[17] sparking fierce fighting. A statement said there was “a brief clash” in Ouani, while Mutsamudu fell “after a short exchange of fire.”[18] These reports were apparently contradicted by journalists embedded with the rebels who said the invaders had "struggled to progress further under the automatic fire of Anjouan forces" and in the afternoon "clashes with heavy artillery continued to shake the town of Ouani."[19] The army was reportedly looking for Bacar's hiding place.[20] Contrary to previous reports that France was against the invasion, France has given its approval and helped to air-lift the AU troops to the island.[21]
The island's capital, airport, seaport and second city were all overrun by dawn to scenes of jubilation from the local population.[22] Early reports indicated that the government of Mohamed Bacar had reportedly fled to the interior of the island and were in hiding, however later (as yet) uncorroborated reports from the Comoros government on March 25 stated that Mohamed Bacar had fled the island incognito seeking exile in Mayotte.[23]
References
- ^ a b http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jnlBDE3zgOEtfeXmIdpRdmy7w7KA
- ^ a b c AU troops arrive in the Comoros
- ^ Troops head for Comoros island
- ^ a b AU troops move towards rebel Comoros island
- ^ a b Leaflets dropped on Anjouan to warn of attack
- ^ COMOROS: Military invasion of Anjouan imminent, government warns
- ^ 'We'll become more radical'
- ^ Comoros A chronology of key events:
- ^ a b Comoros troops capture fighters on rebel island
- ^ a b Deadly clashes' in the Comoros
- ^ Comoros military tanker ship destroyed by fire
- ^ Comoran forces and Anjouan followers clash
- ^ Comoros says French helicopter crashes on Anjouan
- ^ Comoros anger over chopper crash
- ^ Comoros president orders assault
- ^ Anjouan leader flees "dressed as woman" - gov't
- ^ Battles on Comoros rebel island
- ^ African Union begins assault on Comoros
- ^ Bacar's troops in Anjouan not to give up
- ^ Comoros Gov't: Rebel Capital Captured
- ^ African forces invade rebel Comoros island
- ^ Battles on Comoros rebel island
- ^ Anjouan leader flees "dressed as woman" - gov't