2008 invasion of Anjouan
2008 invasion of Anjouan | |||||||
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Map of the invasion of Anjouan | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Supported by:
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
President of the Comoros ) |
Mohamed Bacar (President of Anjouan) | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
2,000
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500[2] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None |
3 killed 10 injured 100 arrested[3] | ||||||
11 civilians injured[4] |
The invasion of Anjouan (code-named Operation Democracy in Comoros),
The invasion occurred in the early morning of March 25, 2008. The main towns were quickly overrun and the island was declared under the control of the invading forces the same day. Mohamed Bacar managed to escape to Mayotte on March 26 and requested political asylum. He was subsequently held in custody there by the French administration and brought to the island of Réunion. On May 15, France rejected Bacar's request for asylum, but the French refugee office ruled that the ousted leader could not be extradited to the Comoros because of the risk of persecution.[8]
Background
Tensions rise
The Comoran federal Government delayed the holding of an election on Anjouan due to alleged irregularities and intimidation, but Bacar nevertheless printed ballots and held an election in June, claiming a landslide victory of 90 per cent.[9] In July 2007, Bacar declared Anjouan to be independent of the Comoros.[10]
Military build-up
In March 2008, hundreds of the Comoran Government troops began assembling on Mohéli, which is closer to Anjouan than the larger island, Grande Comore. Sudan and Senegal provided a total of 750 troops, while Libya offered logistical support for the operation. In addition, 500 Tanzanian troops were due to arrive soon after.[11][12] France, the former colonial power, also assisted the operation by airlifting AU troops to the area.[1]
Vows of resistance from the self-declared President of Anjouan were met with stern words from the AU 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."[11] In an interview with IRIN, Bacar said: "[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."[9]
Anjouan promised to hold new elections in May 2008, which South African President Thabo Mbeki supported 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.[13]
Pre-invasion incidents
On March 3, 2008, a fuel ship supplying the
Despite Mbeki's attempts to stop the invasion, a
The troops then retreated back to Mohéli and returned to Anjouan on Sunday 16 March to rescue the two wounded soldiers. According to a military source one federal soldier suffered an arm injury and another had a minor foot injury.[18] The same sources reported that during the course of the operation "about twenty people" in Domoni died as a result of the Comoran and AU bombardment of Anjouanais positions. These facts were disputed by the Anjouan administration, which insisted that one of the two Comoran soldiers who had attacked Anjouanais positions in Domoni on March 15 had in fact died and that the police station was not captured. They stated that the Comoran and AU forces had been ambushed by Anjouanais forces during the early stages of their incursion at Domoni and had been forced to withdraw from what was a hopeless situation,
Contrary to its republican mission the National Army of Development (Comoran Army) devotes itself to taking innocent citizens as hostages whose only wrong is to be Anjouanese and not Sambist. In addition to the fishermen kidnapped at Marahare and Mromhouli, a second aggression [by] the National Army of Development dissident forces supported by the trawler provided by Iran failed. The elements of the [Anjouanese] Gendarmerie retaliated in self-defence, wounding two of the gangster attackers including one lethally.[19]
France's role in the crisis was brought into question when, on March 19, a French police
We don't know what it was doing. You can imagine the rumors. The Government of Comoros did not allow them to come. They were not authorized ... The French said they sent other air and naval assets to pick up the crew.[22]
The French military had already transported about 300 Tanzanian troops and 30 tons of freight to Grand Comore between March 14 and March 16. According to reports a French diplomat said that France was ready to transport Senegalese troops as well, but had not yet done so. The diplomatic source said France remains "favourable" to dialogue but on condition that Bacar accepts the presence of African troops at the port and airport of Anjouan.[23]
Invasion
On the morning of March 24, 2008, five boats transporting approximately 1,500 AU soldiers left the port of Fomboni, capital of the island of Mohéli.[6] Bacar and his troops vowed to fight until the last man was left standing, with an Anjouan lieutenant stating, "We will fight until we die."[24]
It was reported that the runway at Ouani Airport close to Mutsamudu was blocked with baggage trolleys and the atmosphere was tense as the island braced itself for the impending assault. Before the telephone lines were cut an Anjouan government spokesperson was quoted as saying: "They have decided to kill but we are not afraid. We are well prepared. Our forces are ready and it's going to work!"[25]
About 450 troops landed on the north side of the Anjouan Bay at dawn on 25 March. The first shots were heard around 5 a.m. (
"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, Comoran Government Spokesman[29] |
After the airport was secured the invasion force apparently split where part of it headed south-west to engage Anjouanais loyalists in the capital, Mutsumudu, and the remainder headed south-east, capturing the port of Bambao M'Sanga and the second city of Domoni without resistance.[27]
Early reports indicated that the Bacar government had fled to the interior of the island and were in hiding. However, later uncorroborated reports from the Comoros Government on March 25 stated that Bacar had fled the island incognito to seek exile in Mayotte.[29] There was no comment from the Bacar government but the Comoran Government spokesperson said that the invasion troops had been told to look for him and were conducting house to house searches.[30]
Aftermath
Bacar managed to escape to Mayotte by speedboat, and reports on March 26 confirmed his presence on the island and stated he had requested political asylum in France.[31] The Associated Press reported from Paris that France was considering the request for political asylum[32] but Comoran leaders and anti-French protesters in Comoros demanded that France return Bacar to the Comoros.[33] France stated that it was treating the asylum request as quickly as possible,[citation needed] but, on March 27, Bacar was moved to the French island of Réunion, where he was charged and investigated for illegally entering French territory while carrying weapons, along with 23 of his followers.[34] The case was rejected for procedural reasons, but Bacar and the 23 others remained in custody.[35]
By the end of March, several prominent supporters of Bacar had been arrested, including
On April 5, Bacar was remanded in custody.[37] Comoran President Sambi visited Anjouan in early April, marking his first visit to the island since May 2007. He said that he hoped that separatism in Anjouan would cease with the removal of Bacar from power, and he praised the African leaders who had provided assistance for the invasion.[38]
Contrary to previous reports that France was against the invasion, France gave its approval and helped to air-lift the African Union troops to the island.[1] French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner stressed on April 8 that France had not supported Bacar or provided him with any protection, and that it had fully supported African Union intervention.[39]
On April 18, Bacar, along with 21 of his close guards, was released from prison and returned to house arrest at the Réunion
Bacar's asylum request was rejected on May 15. France's
References
- ^ a b c AFP (March 25, 2008). "African forces invade rebel Comoros island". ReliefWeb. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Comoros: Military action irreversible". Integrated Regional Information Networks Africa. March 14, 2008. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ Amir, Ahmed Ali (March 27, 2008). "Comoros rebel leader flees to French-run island". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
- ^ AFP (March 27, 2008). "Bacar has asked for asylum in France". France 24. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Troops head for Comoros island". Al Jazeera. March 24, 2008. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ a b Goujon, Emmanuel; AFP (March 24, 2008). "AU troops move towards rebel Comoros island". France 24. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Anti-French protests in Comoros". BBC. March 27, 2008. Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved October 2, 2008.
- ^ "Comoran rebel asylum plea refused". BBC News. May 15, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ a b "Comoros: Military invasion of Anjouan imminent, government warns". IRIN Africa. January 31, 2008. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
- ^ "PA-X: Peace Agreements Database". www.peaceagreements.org. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "AU troops arrive in the Comoros". BBC News. March 11, 2008. Archived from the original on March 15, 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
- ^ a b "Comoros troops capture fighters on rebel island". Polity.org.za. Reuters. March 12, 2008. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
- ^ a b "'Deadly clashes' in the Comoros". BBC News. March 13, 2008. Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
- ^ "Comoros military tanker ship destroyed by fire". Polity.org.za. Reuters. March 3, 2008. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
- ^ "Comoros anger over chopper crash". BBC News. March 20, 2008. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ Fabricius, Peter; Carter, Chiara (March 16, 2008). "Mbeki intervenes to halt AU invasion". Independent Online. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ AFP (March 15, 2008). "Comoran forces and Anjouan followers clash". France 24. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
- ^ "Clashes erupt between Comorian forces and Anjouan fighters". AFP. March 15, 2008. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ "Comoros-Anjouan-intervention". African Press Agency. March 17, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Amir, Ahmed Ali (March 19, 2008). "Comoros says French helicopter crashes on Anjouan". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 13, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
- ^ "Comoros anger over chopper crash". BBC News. March 20, 2008. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
- ^ Amir, Ahmed Ali (March 19, 2008). "Comoros says French helicopter crashes on Anjouan". Reuters Africa. Reuters Group PLC. Archived from the original on April 13, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ "Army chief: Comoros islands troops in clash with loyalists of renegade Anjouan ruler". International Herald Tribune. March 18, 2008. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ a b Goujon, Emmanuel (March 25, 2008). "Bacar's troops in Anjouan not to give up until last man standing". ReliefWeb. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
- ^ Amir, Ahmed Ali (March 24, 2008). "Comoros warns rebel island of attack". Canada.com. Canwest Publishing Inc. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ a b "African Union forces seek rebel leader". France 24. March 26, 2008. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ a b "Battles on Comoros rebel island". BBC News. March 25, 2008. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
- ^ Delay, Jerome; Hogg, Jonny (March 25, 2008). "Comoros government says it has captured the capital of a rebel-held island". Associated Press via LexisNexis.
- ^ a b "Anjouan leader flees 'dressed as woman' – gov't". Reuters. March 25, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Amir, Ahmed Ali (March 25, 2008). "Comoros says its troops have taken Anjouan capital". Reuters Africa. Reuters Group PLC. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ "Comoran rebel seeks French asylum". BBC News. March 25, 2008. Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2008.
- ^ "France considering granting asylum to deposed Comoros rebel leader Col. Mohamed Bacar". The International Herald Tribune. March 27, 2008. from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "Anti-French protests in Comoros". BBC News. March 27, 2008. Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2008.
- ^ "France flies rebel out of Comoros". BBC News. March 28, 2008. Archived from the original on April 2, 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2008.
- ^ AFP (March 29, 2008). "Court dismisses case against Comoros rebel leader". via LexisNexis.
- ^ "Former VP, other Bacar’s allies arrested in Anjouan" Archived March 2, 2009, at archive.today, African Press Agency, March 30, 2008.
- ^ "Comoran rebel remanded in custody". BBC News. April 5, 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
- ^ "Comoran president gets a hero’s welcome in Anjouan", African Press Agency, April 5, 2008.[dead link]
- ^ "Comores: Kouchner dément que la France ait "protégé" Bacar" Archived March 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), April 8, 2008.
- ^ "Bertrand Grollier, "France Releases Comoros Rebel, to Stay on Island", Reuters (April 18, 2008 14:50:39)". Alertnet.org. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
- ^ "Comores: asile politique en France pour deux hommes du colonel Bacar" Archived March 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), April 23, 2008 (in French).
- ^ "Comoran rebel asylum plea refused". BBC News. May 15, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
Further reading
- Ayangafac, Chrysantus (March 5, 2008). Situation Critical: The Anjouan Political Crisis (Report). Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022.
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