National prosecutor Ali Mohamed Djounaid said that the attacker, identified as 24-year-old soldier Ahmed Abdou, assaulted the president with a kitchen knife during a funeral for a prominent religious leader before being restrained and handed over to investigators.Abdou also attacked a relative of the late religious leader. Assoumani sustained an injury to his hand following the attack.
The attacker was placed in an isolated cell to calm him down following his arrest, according to Djounaid.
“He (Abdou) was isolated in a cell so that he could calm down yesterday after his arrest. Investigators found his lifeless body lying on the floor this morning. A doctor declared him dead,” Djounaid said at a press conference attended by nearly all government officials and the governors of two of the Comoros archipelago’s three islands.
Investigation underway
An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of Abdou’s death in detention and the motive behind his attack. Prosecutor Djounaid said that Abdou had been handed over to investigators but “did not have time to question him” before his death. “An inquiry is underway into the reasons for the young man’s attempt on the president’s life. There will also be an inquiry into the circumstances of his death,” he added.
President out of danger
The government officials have not disclosed details of the president’s injuries, but said that he required “stitches to his scalp.” “He has no health problems, he is out of danger. A few stitches were given,” said energy minister Aboubacar Saïd Anli.
Government spokeswoman Fatima Ahamada also confirmed that 65-year-old Assoumani is at home and “doing very well.”
Attacker’s body returned to family
Abdou’s body has been returned to his family for burial according to Muslim tradition. Authorities noted that Abdou was a member of the military police who had failed to return to his unit after a short leave on September 11.
Who was Azali Assoumani?
Azali Assoumani, born on January 1, 1959, was a prominent figure in Comorian politics and the military, serving as president in 2016, 2019, and most recently in 2024.
He first came to power through a military coup in 1999. Assoumani was then elected president in 2002. After a decade out of office, he returned by winning a contested election in 2016. He briefly stepped down in 2019 but quickly reassumed office. Assoumani was re-elected last January amid accusations of ballot stuffing and subsequent deadly protests. His tenure was criticised for increasing authoritarianism.
Assoumani also served as president of the African Union from 2023 to 2024.
