Comoros President Grants Sweeping Powers To Son, Raising Concerns Of Succession Plans

In a controversial move, Comoros President Azali Assoumani has granted extensive powers to his son, Nour El Fath, enabling him to intervene at all stages of government decision-making. This decision follows El Fath’s recent appointment as coordinator of government affairs last month. The presidential decree, published on Tuesday, formalises these new responsibilities, allowing El Fath to evaluate ministers and play a crucial role in the execution of government decisions.

Assoumani, 65, who secured re-election in January amid allegations of voter fraud, faces mounting criticism from opponents in the Indian Ocean nation. Critics accuse him of grooming his son to succeed him when his term ends in 2029.
“There is no doubt that Colonel Azali Assoumani, by granting presidential and constitutional prerogatives to his son, is preparing the latter to succeed him,” stated Franco-Comorian lawyer and political commentator Saïd Larifou in an interview with Reuters.

El Fath, aged 40, has been a close advisor to his father for several years. He served as a senior economic adviser from 2019 before being appointed secretary general of the government on July 1. Government spokesperson Fatima Hamada explained that the presidential decree merely clarifies and formalises El Fath’s prerogatives in his new role.

Comoros, an archipelago of three islands off the coast of Mozambique, has a population of approximately 800,000 people. Since gaining independence from France in 1975, the nation has experienced around 20 coups or attempted coups, a turbulent political history that continues to shape its governance.

President Assoumani first came to power in 1999 through a coup and has since won four elections, beginning in 2002. In 2018, he pushed through constitutional reforms that extended the requirement for the presidency to rotate among the three main islands from every five years to ten. Under current laws, El Fath would not be eligible to replace his father when his term concludes in 2029 unless the constitution is amended again.

This latest move by Assoumani has intensified concerns among political observers and opposition figures about the potential for a dynastic succession in Comoros, raising further questions about the future of democracy in the country.

Melissa Enoch

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