MORONI: President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani was injured in a knife attack on Friday, the government said.
Western media reports citing three other sources close to the presidency said the president was stabbed but only slightly injured.
“The head of state was victim of an attack in Salimani-Itsandra,” an area on the outskirts of the capital Moroni, government spokeswoman Fatima Ahamadael told media. “Thank God, his life is not in danger.”
She declined to provide further details but a source close to the president said President Azali Assoumani was injured by a knife while attending a funeral.
According to sources his wounds are not serious and the attacker was arrested. Two other sources close to the presidency also confirmed that the president was slightly wounded during the attack.
A second source speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that the president has received appropriate medical care and his life is out of danger.
The source went on to say that the attacker was a young active-duty gendarme who was recruited in 2022.
Azali, 65, is a former military ruler who came to power after a coup in 1999. He was re-elected president in January after a controversial vote that witnessed two days of deadly protests. He has been accused of pursuing authoritarianism.
