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Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who first seized power in a 1999 coup and has since won four elections, has denied allegations that he plans to hand over power to his son, Nour El Fath, when his term ends in 2029.
The controversy arose after Assoumani made remarks during a speech on the island of Moheli, saying, “I will place my son to replace me as head of the state and the party.” However, in a statement released on Friday via Facebook, the president’s office clarified that the comment was misunderstood.
“The government wishes to emphasise that at no time did President Azali speak of a possible succession of his son Nour El Fath, as the head of the state,” the statement read. It explained that Assoumani referred to “a child” in the cultural context of Comoros, where every citizen is regarded as “a child,” and not specifically his own offspring.
The statement said, “He instead spoke of ‘a child’ who would succeed him, knowing that it is customary in the Comoros to describe every citizen as ‘a child’, without necessarily speaking of one’s own offspring.”
The statement also reiterated Assoumani’s previous stance against “family succession,” noting that any future president would need to come from Anjouan, one of Comoros’ three main islands, in line with the country’s constitutional requirement for the presidency to rotate among the islands every 10 years.
Nour El Fath’s eligibility is further complicated by this constitutional mandate, which would require amendments for him to assume the presidency after his father’s term ends.
Despite this clarification, concerns remain over Assoumani’s growing consolidation of power. Nour El Fath has already been appointed to oversee government affairs and wields significant influence over the cabinet. This move has sparked criticism from opposition leaders, who accuse the president of paving the way for dynastic rule.
Assoumani’s leadership has long been contentious. His 2022 election victory was rejected by opposition groups, who claimed the vote was marred by irregularities. Similarly, his ruling party’s recent parliamentary election win was boycotted or dismissed by opposition parties, citing alleged fraud.
Comoros, an Indian Ocean archipelago with a population of about 800,000, has endured political instability since gaining independence from France in 1975, experiencing around 20 coups or attempted coups. As Assoumani’s tenure continues, debates over his governance and the nation’s democratic future remain at the forefront of political discourse.
Melissa Enoch
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