In Comoros, the wave of arrests of activists from certain opposition candidates in the March 24 presidential election continues. The two main camps affected are those of Dr Achmet and colonel Soilihi Mohamed, former president of the National Transitional Council. On Wednesday, a member of the campaign team of the latter was summoned to the gendarmerie for questioning. He has still not emerged. Earlier in the week Nadia Tourqui, the spokesperson for Soilihi Mohamed, was placed under judicial supervision with a ban on leaving the territory.

It is becoming difficult to keep up with the list of people arrested, charged or simply questioned. It is even becoming complicated to make the difference. Answering investigators' questions at the gendarmerie can last for days.

Families have no news and do not know during this period whether their relative is being heard as a witness or in police custody as a suspect. What is the maximum duration of questioning or that of police custody without seeing a prosecutor? Are these time limits being respected? These are questions that should no longer be asked.

Dr Achmet's wife, a presidential candidate, the spokesman of the NTC (National Transitional Council), the spokesperson of the candidate Soilihi Mohamed and others have undergone these lengthy interrogations at the end of which accusations such as insurrection, crime, failure to report a crime or even threats to state security have emerged.

On Wednesday morning, April 17, it was the turn of Kamal'Eddine Saindou, member of the communications team of candidate Soilihi Mohamed, to be summoned for questioning at the gendarmerie. He has not emerged.