The Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) won a majority of the seats in the parliamentary elections held on 12 January 2025, securing 31 out of the 33 seats in the Assembly of the Union. The polls were boycotted by an opposition party. Women’s representation in the Assembly of the Union remains low. Following the 2025 election, women hold fewer than one in six seats in the Assembly.
On 12 January, 2025, the Union of the Comoros Islands held its first round of legislative elections. Nearly 100 candidates contested in the elections. Voter turnout was 66%. The Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (Convention pour le Renouveau des Comores (CRC)) obtained 31 out of 33 in the Assembly of the Union. The two remaining seats were allocated to Independents (Independents) and the Party for Institutional Reform (PARI) (Parti pour la Réforme des Institutions). Among the elected members is the President’s son, Nour-El-Fatah Azali. In four constituencies of the country, election results were annulled due to opposition parties’ challenges and redone on 30 January, followed by a second round on 16 February, 2025. Concurrently with the second round, municipal elections were held. The main opposition party, Juwa, boycotted the election, citing a lack of transparency in the electoral process.
In 2023, the Assembly of the Union adopted a law increasing the number of the Assembly’s members from 24 to 33. The members are directly elected by an absolute majority in up to two rounds and serve renewable five-year terms. In the 2020 legislative elections, the CRC party won a majority of seats in the Assembly, securing 20 out of 24 seats, with a voter turnout of 62%. The Orange Party and the independent candidates obtained 2 seats each.
Women's political participation and representation
Overall, women’s political participation and representation in the Assembly of the Union remains low. Following the 2025 polls, women hold 5 out of the 33 seats (15.2%) in the Assembly. In the 2020 elections, four women were elected (out of 24, representing 16.7% of the Assembly. In the 2025 election, approximately 338,940 people were registered to vote ( about 42% of the population). Gender-disaggregated data are not provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI); therefore, it is unknown how many of registered female voters participated in the recently concluded polls.
Though Comorian women’s representation in political and public life remains low, they nevertheless hold and have held important positions. ). In 2010, Zaharia Saïd Ahmed,made history as the first female presidential candidate. She won 1% of the votes. In 2019, Mhoudine Sitti Farouata became the first woman elected governor, winning with 70% of the votes. Furthermore, Moinaecha Youssouf Djalali ran for the presidency in 2016 (among 24 male opponents).
With respect to women’s representation in government, as of 1 January 2025, two women serve as ministers. They are:
Legal and other reforms on women’s rights
The Comorian Constitution guarantees equality and provides for “identical remuneration for equal work.” It also guarantees women “the right to access political instances of local and national representation” and provides protection against “all forms of neglect, exploitation and violence.” The Constitution also states that the government should be composed in a manner that assures a just and equitable division between men and women.
In 2022, Comoros adopted a candidate quota for local government elections. The 2022 Electoral Code provides that candidate lists “must be composed alternately of two candidates of one sex and one of the other sex.”
The Commission for Solidarity, Social Protection, and Gender Equality promotes women’s participation through campaigns. The Commission launched “Ngamdjochinda,” a book that tells the stories of twelve women and their political journey. The book aimed to encourage women and girls to engage in politics and was accompanied by a radio program. Other policy initiatives include the National Gender Equity and Equality Policy (PNEEG). The Policy seeks to address gender-related challenges. For example, it aims to ensure equal access to educational opportunities and improve enrolment rates for women. It also addresses various themes, including women in governance, employment and gender-based violence.
The National Commission of Human Rights and Freedoms of the Union of the Comoros (CNDHL) organised a training on women’s rights to increase women’s political participation. During the training, the women identified the obstacles and reviewed the activities and budget of the Women in Politics Platform to broaden access for young women.
The family law (Code de la Famille) of Comoros provides for mutual consent for marriage and women’s autonomy by giving them the right to independent decisions with no obligation to obey their husbands.
Challenges to women’s political participation
Although Comoros has adopted legislative and policy reforms to advance women’s representation, Comorian women face challenges in realising their full and equal participation in political and public life. Some challenges are linked to economic, social, cultural and educational barriers. With respect to legislative barriers, Comoros currently does not have a legislated quota at the national level.
Comorian women who enter politics often face hostility and gender-based discrimination. Ms. Sittou Raghadat, former Secretary of State for Population and Women and the first female minister in Comoros, recalled that she “faced all sorts of suspicion, slander, and dishonourable remarks.” She also recalled that the men treated her as an intruder and were always watching her. Similarly, Said Islam Moinaécha Mroudjaé, the first woman mayor of Bandamadji-Itsandra, noted the negative behaviour men used to garner votes and undermine her work.
Women in Comoros advocating for change
Comorian women are actively advocating for the strengthening of women’s rights and political representation. For example, the Platform for Women in Politics and other civil society organisations led the drafting of the Hadjira Act. The Act sought to promote a 30% quota for women in executive positions in the Union and autonomous islands, and at least 30% of candidates for elections at national and local levels are women. While the Act was unanimously adopted by the Assembly in 2017, it has yet to be implemented.
Among the organisations working on gender equality and women’s participation in the Comoros, the National Network of Women Entrepreneurs (RESNAFE) promotes women’s entrepreneurship and leadership by creating a support network and bringing together associations of women entrepreneurs operating in different sectors of the economy (agriculture, fishing, textiles, and small industries).
In the Comorian political and social context, there is a need for collective action and awareness, as explained by activist Hissane Guy. According to her, men are unwilling to give up part of their power to make space for women entering politics; therefore, it is fundamental for women to organise themselves and to advocate for themselves.
Conclusion
In the 2025 parliamentary elections, the party of current President Azali Assoumani won 31 of the 33 seats in the Assembly of the Union. The two remaining seats were allocated to Independents (Independents) and the Party for Institutional Reform (PARI) (Parti pour la Réforme des Institutions). This was the first election following the expansion of the Assembly of the Union from 24 to 33 seats. Women represent 15.2% (5 out of 33 seats).
Comoros has adopted legislation and implemented policies to advance women’s rights and Comorian women’s political participation and representation. Women’s representation in elected and appointive positions, however, remains low in Comoros. To advance women's rights, female participation and representation, Comorian women’s groups and activists continue to organise and advocate for positive change.