The incident took place during a funeral for a prominent religious figure, where President Azali Assoumani suffered a minor hand injury.
National prosecutor Ali Mohamed Djounaid stated that the suspect was put in solitary confinement after his arrest to help him calm down. However, by Saturday morning, the suspect was found dead in his cell.
“A doctor declared him dead. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of his death,” Djounaid announced at a press conference in Moroni, the capital city.
Energy Minister Aboubacar Saïd Anli assured the public that the 65-year-old president is in good condition, stating, “He is out of danger. A few stitches were given.” Many government officials attended the briefing.
The motive behind Friday’s attack remains unclear, and authorities are currently investigating. The attacker has been identified as 24-year-old soldier Ahmed Abdou, according to AFP.
Witnesses reported seeing him in the room where people were paying their respects, noting that he injured the president’s hand before being restrained by an attendee.
President Azali first came to power in 1999 via a military coup. After a decade away from politics, he returned in 2016 following a contested election and was re-elected in January last year.
His re-election was marred by allegations of vote-rigging and led to two days of violent protests. In recent years, Azali has faced criticism for increasingly authoritarian practices.
He recently completed his term as the chairperson of the African Union, serving from 2023 to 2024.
