A man who attacked Comoros President Azali Assoumani with a knife has been found dead in his prison cell, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The attacker, identified as 24-year-old soldier Ahmed Abdou, had been arrested following the incident, which occurred during a funeral for a prominent religious figure in the capital, Moroni.
National prosecutor Ali Mohamed Djounaid stated that Abdou had been isolated in a cell to calm him down after his arrest. His lifeless body was discovered on the floor of the cell the following morning. “A doctor declared him dead. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of his death,” Djounaid told reporters at a press conference attended by several government ministers.
The knife attack left President Assoumani with an injured hand, but authorities assured the public that he was out of danger. “He is doing well and has no health problems. He received a few stitches,” Energy Minister Aboubacar Saïd Anli said, addressing the press.
Witnesses reported that Abdou was present in the room where mourners were paying their respects before he launched the attack, injuring the president’s hand before being subdued by a bystander. The motive for the assault remains unclear, and authorities are continuing their investigation.
President Assoumani, who first came to power in a 1999 military coup, was re-elected in 2016 in a contested election marred by allegations of vote rigging. His leadership has faced accusations of increasing authoritarianism, and protests following his re-election last year turned deadly. Assoumani served as African Union president from 2023 to 2024.
