Comoros president appoints son to government role amid controversy
One person was killed and at least 25 others injured during violent protests in the island nation off the coast of Mozambique. The electoral body declared Assoumani the winner of his fourth five-year term, sparking widespread unrest.
Political analysts, opposition leaders, and local media suggest that Assoumani is grooming his 40-year-old son, who has a background in finance and has served as the president’s chief economic advisor since 2019, to succeed him.
With a population of around 800,000, the Comoros has experienced about 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975.
Constitutional reforms in 2018 extended the rotation requirement of the presidency among the three main islands of the Comoros from five to ten years.
This means El Fath would not be eligible to replace his father at the end of the presidential term in 2029 unless the constitution is amended again.
