Drama unfolded in the Comoros Islands as President Azali Assoumani narrowly escaped a knife attack, only for his assailant to turn up dead in custody a day later. It’s a plot twist worthy of a political thriller, but this is real life in the small Indian Ocean nation.
The attack was perpetrated during a funeral in Salimani Itsandra, just north of the capital. A 24-year-old cop named Ahmed Abdou, who was supposedly on leave, was the author of the stab.
Luckily for Assoumani, he escaped with just a few stitches. “The president is doing well,” assured Energy Minister Aboubacar Saïd Anli, probably breathing a sigh of relief.
But here’s where it gets murky. Abdou was nabbed and tossed in a cell. Fast forward to Saturday morning, and investigators found him “lying on the ground, his body was lifeless,” according to the public prosecutor. Talk about convenient timing.
Now, everyone’s scrambling to figure out two things: why did Abdou attack the president, and how did he end up dead? An investigation’s underway, but don’t hold your breath for answers.
This whole mess comes on the heels of Assoumani’s controversial fourth term win in January. His opponents cry foul, alleging voter fraud, but officials are sticking to their guns.
As the Comoros tries to piece together this political puzzle, one thing’s for sure – there’s never a dull moment in island politics.