Comoros President Azali Assoumani has denied reports suggesting he intends to hand over power to his son, Nour El Fath, after his presidential term ends in 2029. Assoumani made the statement on Thursday during a speech to supporters on Moheli island, where he mentioned placing “my son” as his successor. This remark sparked speculation about a possible dynastic succession.
However, the president’s office clarified the statement on Friday, explaining that Assoumani had not spoken about a familial succession. Instead, the term “child” used in his speech is a common expression in Comoros, referring to any citizen, not necessarily one’s own offspring. The government assured the public that Assoumani had previously rejected the idea of passing on the presidency to his son, emphasizing that Comoros’ constitution mandates that the presidency rotate among the country’s three islands every ten years.
According to this constitutional rule, Nour El Fath would not be eligible to succeed his father in 2029 unless the law is amended. Assoumani, who first came to power in a 1999 coup and has since won four elections, most recently claimed victory in the 2022 elections, though opposition groups rejected the results, citing electoral irregularities.
Despite the controversy, Assoumani has appointed his son to lead government affairs and granted him significant authority over the cabinet. His ruling party secured a decisive win in parliamentary elections earlier this month, though opposition parties, some of which boycotted the vote, have denounced the results as fraudulent.
