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Exclusive Interview with Ambassador Toihiri (Union of the
Comoros)
By Glenville Ashby.
New York, NY. 02/22/2010
- The Union of Comoros is comprised of four islands located
off the coast of East Africa. It is a member of the African Union, the
Organization of Islamic States, the Indian Ocean Commission and the Arab
League. It has also been referred to as the sole electoral democracy in
the Arab world.
On February 22, in an
exclusive interview for the Diplomatic Monitor, I sat down with its
Ambassador, H.E. Ambassador Mohamed.
The Diplomatic Monitor: On behalf of the staff of Diplomatic Monitor and
faculty at EUCLID, I wish to thank you for your time and accommodation.
Firstly, can you give us an insight into your involvement in the field of
politics and diplomacy?
H.E. Ambassador Toihiri: I am glad to have you in my office today. First, I
am not a diplomat. I was a teacher since 2006. The new president, when he
was elected decided to appoint me to this position. So I am
here since 2007. I have tried to be quiet but we do have a problem
with France over the island of Mayotte. They think that this island is
French but I think belongs to Comoros. The first thing I did was to put
this question before the United Nations to be discussed last year. This
is very important that this question be addressed.
The Diplomatic Monitor: Wasn't there a referendum in Mayotte in respect to
its status. Are the people in Mayotte not deciding for themselves who
they want to be with? Who ultimately is the determinant of that decision?
Is it not the people of Mayotte?
H.E.
Ambassador Toihiri: What
France is doing there is not very fair. Mayotte must be in Comoros. They
stay in Mayotte...Look, France is very rich and they are helping this
island with money and everything… so if you ask if you
want to be Comorian or French. Well.....
The
Diplomatic Monitor: Okay,
so we understand why the people of Mayotte want to stay with France, but
what is France getting from this relationship?
H.E.
Ambassador Toihiri: Well,
it is strategic. We told the French after independence that they
must go home and return as a foreigner. So they stay in Mayotte, it is
their home. From there, they can monitor everything going on in the other
islands. [Continued]
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