Comoros President Azali Assoumani has dismissed claims that he intends to pass leadership to his son, Nour El Fath, once his term ends in 2029. Assoumani, who first seized power in a 1999 coup and has won four elections since 2002, clarified his comments following backlash.
During a speech on the island of Moheli, Assoumani remarked, “I will place my son to replace me as head of the state and the party.” However, a statement from the presidency, issued Friday night, emphasized that the president’s remarks did not specifically refer to Nour El Fath.
“The government wishes to clarify that at no time did President Azali speak of his son taking over as head of state,” the statement said, explaining that the phrase “a child” is commonly used in Comoros to refer to any citizen, not necessarily one’s offspring.
The statement also reiterated Assoumani’s opposition to “family succession” and highlighted that, under the constitution, the presidency rotates every decade among Comoros’ three main islands. This provision would make Nour El Fath ineligible to succeed his father unless the constitution is amended.
Despite this, Assoumani has appointed his son to oversee government affairs, granting him significant authority within the cabinet. This move comes after the ruling party’s decisive victory in parliamentary elections earlier this month, which opposition groups boycotted or dismissed as fraudulent.