Comoros President Azali Assoumani was barely wounded in a knife assault Friday, the presidency mentioned, including that the attacker had been arrested.
“The President of the Republic Azali Assoumani was barely wounded by a knife whereas attending the funeral” of a well known non secular chief, it mentioned in a press release.
“His accidents usually are not critical, and he has returned dwelling. The attacker is within the arms of the safety companies,” it added.
Authorities spokeswoman Fatima Ahamadael advised AFP that the assault occurred in Salimani-Itsandra, an space on the outskirts of the capital Moroni.
“Thank God, his life is just not at risk,” she mentioned, declining to present additional particulars.
Witnesses advised AFP that the attacker was a 22-year-old with no felony historical past, who had joined the military in 2022. He was wearing a boubou, and was within the room with the non secular chief’s physique, as mourners have been paying respects, they mentioned.
The knife injured the president’s hand, however the attacker was stopped by one other mourner, the witnesses mentioned.
A supply near the presidency, talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned: “The president has acquired applicable care. He’s out of hazard.”
A second supply, additionally talking on situation of anonymity, advised AFP that the attacker was a younger “active-duty gendarme”.
No different particulars have been instantly obtainable.
After the assault, the neighbourhood remained tense, with gendarmes on the scene. Residents hurried dwelling, typically pausing to whisper in small teams on the streets.
Azali, 65, a former army ruler who got here to energy in a coup in 1999, was re-elected president in January after a disputed vote was adopted by two days of lethal protests.
He has been accused of rising authoritarianism.
In August, he granted new powers to his son, in a transfer that critics mentioned was a step in direction of consolidating the household’s rule over the small African island nation.
Nour El Fath Azali, who’s Azali’s eldest son, was appointed secretary normal of Comoros in July.
Together with his new powers, he should approve all decrees issued by ministers and governors.
Critics mentioned that elevates his position to that of de facto prime minister.
In January, President Azali gained a vote which his opponents mentioned was marred by fraud. Court docket challenges to the election have been dismissed.
One individual was killed and several other others injured within the violence that erupted within the aftermath of the election within the nation of some 870,000 folks.
His arch-rival, former president Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, is serving a life sentence for top treason for allegedly promoting passports.
AFP