Comorian ‌President Azali Assoumani Survives‌ Knife Attack

Comorian⁢ President Azali‍ Assoumani was attacked⁤ with a knife on September‌ 13, 2024, during a funeral in the Salimani-Itsandra community.

The attacker, a‍ 22-year-old‍ man who‍ joined ⁢the ⁣army ⁣two ⁢years ⁣ago, is described as an “active gendarme” recruited in ⁣2022.‍ According to the presidency, President‌ Assoumani is doing well after ⁣the stabbing ​attack and has returned home.

The attack ‍occurred during​ the funeral of a distinguished sheikh in the country. The presidency ⁢stated that the attacker is in the hands of the security services, but no further details on the ⁤circumstances or motive behind the attack have⁤ been released.

Comorian government ‍spokeswoman Fatima Ahamada confirmed​ the attack took ‍place in ⁣Salimani-Itsandra, a small town bordering Moroni, on the ​heights of the archipelago’s capital. Witnesses reported that the ⁢attacker was in the room where the ​body of the deceased sheikh ⁣was​ displayed ⁣when he⁣ attacked President⁢ Azali.

President⁢ Azali Assoumani, 65, a former army chief of staff, has been in power since 1999. He was⁢ re-elected‍ president in⁤ January after ‌a contested vote‌ followed​ by two days of deadly demonstrations. His critics accuse him of​ increasing jurisdiction in ‌the three-island archipelago.

President Assoumani has appointed his son, Nour ⁣El Fath Azali, as secretary general of the government, leading some to believe that ⁢his son is the​ de ‍facto Prime Minister. ‍This ‌move has raised concerns about the concentration of power in ⁣the country.

President Assoumani⁣ previously held the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) between ‌January 2023 and February 2024, a ​first for a small country and‌ island‍ state.