Comoros' incumbent president, Azali Assoumani, has been cleared by the country's highest court to run in next year's presidential election, according to the court's declaration of endorsed candidates.
Assoumani is set to face nine rivals in the presidential election scheduled for 14 January. Among the opponents are the former foreign minister Aboudou Soefo, leader of the opposition Juwa party - Salim Issa, former interior minister under Assoumani Mohamed Daoudou and Mouigni Baraka Said Soilihi former governor of Ngazidja, Comoros' largest island.
Campaigning for the first round is scheduled on 17 December and end on 12 January, two days prior to the vote. The date for the second round is set for 25 February, if deemed necessary.
Before the 2018 referendum that changed the electoral system, the presidency rotated among Comoros' three main islands: Anjouan, Ngazidja, and Moheli. During an island's turn to hold the presidency, it conducted a first round and the top three candidates progressed to a second national round.
However, the 2018 referendum, initiated by Assoumani, abolished the compulsory rotation of the islands and introduced a nationwide vote. 92.74% of the electorate voted in favor of the constitutional change, while 7.26% voted against it.
In the early presidential election in March 2019, Assoumani comfortably secured victory in the first round.