Azali Assoumani President of the Comoros from 1999 to 2006, Colonel. Date of Birth: 01.01.1959 Country: Comoros

1. Biography of Azali Assoumani
2. Early Life and Military Career
3. Presidency and Political Career
4. Return to Power and Constitutional Changes
5. Continued Presidency

Biography of Azali Assoumani

Azali Assoumani, born on January 1, 1959, in the town of Mitsudje on the island of Grand Comore, is a prominent political figure in the Comoros. He has served as the President of the Comoros in various periods, including from 1999 to 2006 and since 2016.

Early Life and Military Career

After completing his education at the capital's college, Assoumani chose a career in the military and was sent to the Royal Military Academy in Morocco for training. Upon his return, he held positions such as the chief personal secretary of the Comoros and commanded a unit in the National School of Armed Forces and Gendarmerie. Seeking further military education, Assoumani went to France, where he graduated from the infantry school in Montpellier and the International Military College in Paris.

Presidency and Political Career

In 1990, Colonel Assoumani assumed the position of temporary commander of the armed forces of the Comoros. In April 1999, he led a military coup that resulted in the removal of President Massound, the annulment of the constitution, and the dissolution of all state institutions. On May 6, 1999, Assoumani declared himself president based on the temporary constitution he introduced. However, he later announced his intention to voluntarily step down and hand over power to a democratically elected leader.

In 2001, a new constitution was adopted, and Assoumani decided to participate in the presidential elections. Although the fairness of the elections was questioned by both domestic and international observers, Assoumani emerged as the winner. During his presidency, there were attempts of another coup and an assassination plot against him. The Comoros remained one of the poorest countries in the world under his leadership, with human rights concerns.

Return to Power and Constitutional Changes

In 2016, the right to choose the president returned to the island of Grand Comore, allowing Assoumani to run for office again. While he secured the third position during the island's elections, he advanced to the national round and narrowly won with a slight majority. On May 26, 2016, Assoumani became the President of the Comoros once again.

In 2018, Assoumani initiated a constitutional referendum to change the election system for the presidency. The proposed changes aimed to eliminate the rotation of presidents from the three islands and introduce a single national vote. The amendments also allowed the incumbent president to run for a second consecutive term. The referendum passed with a significant majority.

Continued Presidency

In the early presidential elections held in March 2019, Assoumani won comfortably in the first round. In May 2022, he received a continental distinction from the Moroccan embassy in the Comoros. On February 18, 2023, Assoumani assumed the presidency of the African Union, as the chairmanship transferred from Senegal to the Comoros.

Azali Assoumani's political career has been marked by his multiple terms as the President of the Comoros and his efforts to bring stability and development to the country.