This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years.
MORONI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 338,940 registered voters among the roughly 900,000 total population are expected to cast their ballots at 868 polling stations across the country from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
Election officials count votes at a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros, Jan. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
Traffic in the country is strictly regulated on Sunday, allowing only vehicles with a pass to circulate.
Provisional results may be announced Monday by the country's electoral commission.
If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes, the two candidates with the highest number of votes will proceed to a runoff round on Feb. 25. ■
