Assoumani, the president of Comoros, denies that he plans to transfer power to his son

Azali Assoumani, the president of Comoros, who was elected in a coup in 1999 and has won four elections since 2002, has denied that he plans to pass the reins of power to his son.

Speaking to fans on the island of Moheli on Thursday, Assoumani declared: “I will place my son to replace me as head of the state and the party.”

However, the president’s administration claimed in a statement late Friday on its Facebook page that it did not intend to transfer power to his son Nour El Fath when he leaves office in 2029.

“The government wishes to emphasize that at no time did President Azali speak of a possible succession of his son Nour El Fath, as the head of the state,” read the statement.

“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.”

“Family succession” was previously rejected by the president, according to the statement, and his successor would have to be from Anjouan, one of the three main islands of Comoros.

The Comoros constitution stipulates that every ten years, the presidency shall alternate between the three islands.

Therefore, unless the constitution is altered, El Fath would not be qualified to succeed his father when his tenure as president ends in 2029.

In 2022, Assoumani won his most recent election, but the opposition disputed the results, claiming the poll was marred by irregularities.

He has given his son broad authority over the cabinet and placed him in charge of organizing government activities.

This month’s legislative elections saw a resounding victory for his ruling party, despite opposition parties rejecting the results and boycotting the vote, accusing them of fraud.

The population of Comoros is around 800,000. Approximately 20 coups or attempted coups have occurred since gaining independence from France in 1975.