President Azali Assoumani was slightly wounded in a shocking knife attack on Friday while attending the funeral of a prominent religious leader in Salimani-Itsandra, located on the outskirts of the capital, Moroni.
According to a statement from the presidency, the assailant has been apprehended, and Assoumani’s injuries are reported as not serious.
The incident occurred as mourners paid their respects, with witnesses identifying the attacker as a 22-year-old active-duty gendarme who joined the military in 2022.
Eyewitnesses noted that the assailant, dressed in traditional attire, struck the president in the hand before another mourner intervened to stop him.
Government spokeswoman Fatima Ahamadael assured the public that the president was in stable condition and had returned home after receiving appropriate medical care.
The attack has heightened tensions in the area, prompting a heavy police presence as locals expressed their concerns on the streets. Residents were seen whispering together, reiterating a sense of unease in the community.
Assoumani, 65, is no stranger to controversy; he first came to power in a 1999 coup and was re-elected in January amidst allegations of electoral fraud that sparked widespread protests, resulting in one death and numerous injuries.
His administration has faced criticism for increasingly authoritarian measures, especially following his decision to grant expansive powers to his son, Nour El Fath Azali, further consolidating the family’s influence over the small island nation.
