Man who attacked Comoros president dies in cell

Authorities in Comoros have confirmed that the man who attacked President Azali Assoumani with a knife has been found dead in his prison cell. The 24-year-old soldier, identified as Ahmed Abdou, was arrested after injuring the president’s hand during a funeral for a religious leader on Friday. The president received stitches but is reportedly in good health. National prosecutor Ali Mohamed Djounaid stated that Abdou had been isolated in his cell to calm him down, but was found lifeless on Saturday morning. A doctor declared him dead, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of his death.

Witnesses at the funeral in Moroni, the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago, said the attacker struck the president’s hand before being subdued by a mourner. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but the authorities are investigating further.

President Azali, who first came to power in a 1999 military coup, has faced accusations of authoritarianism in recent years. He won a disputed election in 2016 and was re-elected in 2023, despite allegations of ballot rigging and subsequent protests. At the time of the attack, Azali was recently serving as the president of the African Union.