President Azali Assoumani of Comoros was wounded in an attack on Friday, according to government officials, with sources close to the presidency confirming that he was stabbed but only sustained minor injuries.
Government spokeswoman Fatima Ahamadael stated that the president was attacked in Salimani-Itsandra, a location on the outskirts of the capital, Moroni.
“The head of state was a victim of an attack… Thank God, his life is not in danger,” she told AFP without providing further details.
A source close to the president revealed that the 65-year-old leader was stabbed while attending a funeral.
“President Azali Assoumani was slightly injured by a knife,” the source said, adding that the injuries were not serious. “The attacker was arrested.”
Other sources also confirmed the president received immediate care and is no longer in danger.
One source added that the attacker was a young gendarme, recruited in 2022.
President Assoumani, a former military leader who first took power in a coup in 1999, was re-elected in January 2024 after a contested election, which led to protests and accusations of authoritarianism.
Further details regarding the motive behind the attack or the identity of the assailant have yet to be released.