The president of Comoros gives his son extensive new authority

After placing his son Nour El Fath in charge of managing government activities last month, Comoros President Azali Assoumani has now given him extensive new powers that allow him to interfere at any point throughout the decision-making process throughout the administration.

Opponents in the nation bordering the Indian Ocean have charged 65-year-old Assoumani of grooming his son to succeed him when his tenure ends in 2029. Assoumani’s re-election in January was marred by accusations of voter fraud. On the accusations, he has remained silent.

El Fath did not answer a request for comment right away.
Political pundit and Franco-Comorian lawyer Saïd Larifou told Reuters that “there is no doubt that Colonel Azali Assoumani, by granting presidential and constitutional prerogatives to his son, is preparing the latter to succeed him.”

El Fath would be able to intervene at any point during the implementation of government decisions and evaluate ministers, among other powers, as per a presidential order released on Tuesday.

The forty-year-old began serving Assoumani in 2019 as a senior economic advisor before assuming the role of government secretary general on July 1.

El Fath’s authority as secretary general was made clear and official by the presidential decree, according to government spokesperson Fatima Hamada.

The population of Comoros, a trio of islands off the coast of Mozambique, is estimated to be 800,000. Approximately 20 coups or attempted coups have occurred since gaining independence from France in 1975.

After a coup brought Assoumani to power for the first time in 1999, he has won four elections since 2002.

In 2018, amendments to the constitution increased the number of times the presidency must alternate between the three main islands from five to ten.

Thus, absent another constitutional amendment, El Fath would not be qualified to succeed his father as president in 2029.