Comoros President Azali Assoumani, is denying the claims that he wants to hand over power to his son, dismissing rumours of dynastic succession. Assoumani’s statement aims to calm concerns over the country’s political transition and presidential succession.
According to President Assoumani on Thursday while making a speech to supporters on the island of Moheli: “I will place my son to replace me as head of the state and the party.”
However, a statement posted on the Facebook page late on Friday, clarified that the president’s office did not mean he intended to hand over power when he leaves office in 2029 to his son Nour El Fath.
“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, adding: “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 additionally noted that President Assoumani had previously rejected the idea of “family succession” and that his successor would have to be a native from Anjouan, one of Comoros’ three main Islands.
Comoros’ constitution states that the presidency must rotate among the three Islands every 10 years therefore, the President’s son, El Fath would not be eligible to replace his father at the end of the presidential term in 2029 unless the constitution is changed.
Assoumani’s latest election victory came in 2022, although the results were rejected by the opposition who said the poll was marred by election irregularities.
The Comoros president has however, put his son in charge of coordinating government affairs and granted him sweeping powers over the cabinet.
Assoumani’s ruling party decisively won parliamentary elections this month, although opposition parties either boycotted the vote or rejected the results, citing fraud.
The Comoros islands has an estimated population of about 800,000. It has witnessed about 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975.
