Comoros president says he intends to hand power to his son

FILE PHOTO: Chairperson of the African Union and Comorian President Azali Assoumani attends a press conference during the "Compact with Africa" investment summit in Berlin, Germany, November 20, 2023. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen/File Photo

MORONI (Reuters) - Comoros President Azali Assoumani has for the first time said publicly he intends to hand power to his son Nour El Fath when he leaves office in 2029, confirming critics' accusations that he has long been grooming his son to take over.

Assoumani, whose re-election a year ago was tainted by allegations of voter fraud, put El Fath in charge of coordinating government affairs and granted him sweeping powers over the cabinet.