Azali Assoumani is a Comorian politician and military officer who has served as President of the Comoros since April 2019.
14 Facts About Azali Assoumani
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Azali Assoumani was president from 2002 to 2006 and 2016 to February 2019.
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Azali Assoumani became head of state after staging a coup d'etat in 1999 and was elected president in 2002,2016 and April 2019.
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Azali Assoumani has served as Chairperson of the African Union since February 2023.
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Azali Assoumani became the President of the Council of State of the Comoros in 1999 after overthrowing interim president Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde in a coup d'etat.
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Azali Assoumani's troops justified the coup on the basis of protecting territorial integrity after Massounde had begun negotiations with representatives of the island of Anjouan for greater autonomy or independence.
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Azali Assoumani announced elections for 2002, with violent clashes between state forces and the opposition erupting across the country during the campaign.
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Azali Assoumani resigned from his position as President of the Council of State on 21 January 2002 in order to run for President of the Union of the Comoros and was succeeded by Hamada Madi.
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Azali Assoumani's presidency was marked by conflicts over jurisdiction and political gridlock due to his refusal to devolve power to the autonomous regions of the Comoros, as mandated by the constitution.
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Azali Assoumani launched a second presidential bid in the 2016 presidential election.
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Azali Assoumani demanded the invalidation of ballots from most of the polling stations on Anjouan in particular.
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On 13 February 2019, Azali Assoumani resigned the presidency to campaign for re-election in the 2019 Comorian presidential election on 24 March.
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In 2022, Azali Assoumani was invited by President Paul Biya of Cameroon to open the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations at Olembe Stadium, Yaounde.
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On 28 September 2022, on the occasion of the state funeral for Shinzo Abe, Japan's former prime minister, in Tokyo, Azali Assoumani was one of only seven heads of state who met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito.