Assembly of the Autonomous Island of Mohli

The Assembly of the Autonomous Island of Mohéli is the legislative body of Mohéli, the smallest of the three main islands forming the Union of the Comoros. As an institution of island-level governance, the Assembly is responsible for law-making, representation, and oversight within the framework of the island’s autonomous status. Its establishment reflects broader constitutional efforts to accommodate regional diversity and decentralise political authority in response to the Comoros’ history of instability and inter-island tensions.
Despite its limited size, the Assembly of Mohéli holds significant importance in ensuring democratic participation and self-governance for the island’s population. It operates as a key institutional link between local political priorities and the wider constitutional order of the Union of the Comoros.

Historical and Political Background

Since independence in 1975, the Comoros has faced repeated political crises, including frequent coups, contested elections, and shifting constitutional arrangements. These challenges were often exacerbated by perceived imbalances between the islands, leading to demands for greater autonomy, particularly during the late 1990s.
Although Mohéli was less prominent in secessionist movements than Anjouan, it shared concerns regarding political marginalisation and limited local control over governance. These pressures contributed to nationwide negotiations that culminated in the Fomboni Accords of 2000. The accords established a new political framework based on extensive island autonomy within a unified state.
Under this arrangement, each island was granted its own executive and legislative institutions. The Assembly of the Autonomous Island of Mohéli was thus created as the island’s formal legislative authority, complementing the office of the Island President and operating alongside federal institutions.

Constitutional Framework and Legislative Role

The Assembly derives its powers from the constitution of the Union of the Comoros, which defines the distribution of competencies between the federal government and the autonomous islands. While sovereignty remains vested in the Union, islands are empowered to legislate on matters of local concern.
Within this framework, the Assembly of Mohéli is tasked with:

• Enacting legislation applicable to the island.
• Approving the island’s budget and financial policies.
• Exercising oversight over the Island President and executive administration.
• Representing the interests of Mohéli’s population in political decision-making.

The Assembly’s role is intended to strengthen democratic governance at the local level while ensuring coherence with national laws and constitutional principles.

Structure and Composition

The Assembly of the Autonomous Island of Mohéli is a unicameral legislature with a comparatively small membership, reflecting the island’s population size and administrative scale. Members are elected through popular vote in accordance with island electoral laws.
Following the 2004 legislative elections, the Assembly consisted of 10 members. These members represented constituencies across the island, including both urban settlements and rural communities. The limited number of seats was designed to promote efficiency and close interaction between representatives and their constituents.
Assembly members participate in plenary sessions, legislative committees, and debates. Collectively, they are responsible for shaping island legislation, scrutinising executive actions, and addressing local policy challenges.

Elections of 2004

The legislative elections of 2004 were held in two rounds on 14 and 21 March 2004, in line with the electoral practices adopted across the Union of the Comoros at the time. These elections were conducted during a period of political consolidation following the implementation of the autonomy framework established by the Fomboni Accords.
Political competition in Mohéli largely revolved around support for the Island President, Mohamed Said Fazul, and alignment with or opposition to the federal President, Azali Assoumani. As on the other islands, electoral alignments reflected broader debates concerning the balance between island autonomy and federal authority.
The election results demonstrated overwhelming support for the Island President:

• 9 seats were won by supporters of Island President Mohamed Said Fazul.
• 1 seat was won by a supporter of federal President Azali Assoumani.

This outcome gave the Island President near-total control of the Assembly, resulting in one of the most decisive legislative majorities among the three islands.

Political Implications of the 2004 Results

The dominance of pro-Fazul representatives in the Assembly had significant political consequences for Mohéli’s governance. With only a single opposition member, the Island President enjoyed strong legislative backing, enabling swift decision-making and policy implementation.
The implications of this configuration included:

• A high degree of alignment between the legislative and executive branches.
• Limited parliamentary opposition and reduced legislative contestation.
• Enhanced political stability at the island level, at least in the short term.

However, the near absence of opposition also raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of legislative oversight and the resilience of democratic checks and balances. Critics argued that such dominance risked transforming the Assembly into a largely supportive body rather than an independent forum for debate.

Legislative Functions and Areas of Competence

The Assembly of Mohéli exercises authority over policy areas devolved to the island under the Comorian constitution. These typically include:

• Local administration and governance structures.
• Economic development initiatives and resource management.
• Education and health services within island jurisdiction.
• Infrastructure development, transport, and public utilities.
• Cultural and social affairs specific to the island.

Legislation passed by the Assembly applies exclusively to Mohéli, provided it does not conflict with federal law or constitutional provisions. In practice, the Assembly also plays a role in adapting national policies to local conditions through implementation measures and supplementary regulations.

Oversight and Executive–Legislative Relations

One of the Assembly’s formal responsibilities is to oversee the actions of the island executive. This includes questioning executive officials, debating government performance, and reviewing administrative decisions.
Following the 2004 elections, the overwhelming majority held by supporters of the Island President resulted in a highly cooperative relationship between the Assembly and the executive. While this facilitated administrative efficiency and policy coherence, it also limited the scope for critical scrutiny.
In the context of Mohéli’s small political environment, personal and political relationships further influenced the functioning of oversight mechanisms, making institutional independence dependent on political norms rather than structural safeguards.

Relationship with Federal Authorities

Although Mohéli enjoys constitutional autonomy, its Assembly operates within the broader political system of the Union of the Comoros. Relations with federal authorities are shaped by overlapping competencies, resource constraints, and political alignments.
The composition of the 2004 Assembly, with a single federal-aligned member, highlighted the island’s strong support for its own executive leadership. While this reduced direct federal influence within the Assembly, it did not eliminate interaction with national institutions, particularly in areas such as funding, security, and constitutional compliance.
The Assembly thus serves as an intermediary institution, negotiating the practical boundaries between island self-governance and national unity.

Challenges and Criticism

The Assembly of the Autonomous Island of Mohéli has faced challenges common to small legislative bodies in developing states. These have included:

• Limited administrative and technical capacity.
• Dependence on the executive for policy information and implementation.
• Constraints imposed by limited financial resources.
• The impact of political dominance on legislative independence.