Comoros is finally coming to the end of a protracted transition period that has involved months of uncertainty over the transfer of power (December 2010, The political scene). Having won the Union presidential election in December 2010, Ikililou Dhoinine is due to be sworn in as head of state on May 26th, taking over from the current federal president, Ahmed Abdallah Sambi. Although Mr Dhoinine was Mr Sambi's preferred candidate and received the support of the incumbent's Baobab coalition, there has been speculation that tensions may emerge over the timing of the handover of power-speculation on which the authorities have been keen to crack down. In January Al Watwan, a local newspaper that is generally perceived to be pro-government, published an article questioning the need for a five-month transition period. This prompted speculation that Mr Dhoinine would prefer a March handover date. Al Watwan's editor was subsequently dismissed, in a move widely perceived to have been prompted by the publication of the article.

Two Comorian journalists have been charged with "publishing false news" in their coverage of the handover. Ali Moindjié, the editor of Albalad, a private daily, and Hadji Hassanali, the editor of La Tribune des Comores, a bimonthly publication, face up to six months in jail if convicted. The charges against them relate to an article they wrote suggesting that the official presidential swearing-in ceremony could be delayed beyond May 26th. As yet there is nothing to suggest that there will be any such delay, but the authorities' reaction-some would say overreaction-underscores the continuing sensitivity of the issue. Certainly, any deferral of the handover would risk creating instability, notably on the island of Mohéli, which has long harboured suspicions that it risks being deprived of its "turn" at the presidency-under the country's 2001 constitution, the federal presidency is supposed to rotate every four years between Grand Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli. (Mr Dhoinine is from Mohéli.)