Comoros President Azali Assoumani injured in knife attack

The motive for the stabbing is not yet clear.

The knifeman’s identity has not been publicly confirmed but multiple reports suggest he is a young military officer.

Witnesses told the AFP agency they saw the man in the room, dressed in a robe, where well-wishers were paying their respects to the deceased.

They say the attacker injured the president’s hand in the stabbing, before being stopped by one of the mourners.

President Azali first came to power in a military coup in 1999.

After a decade out of office, he won a disputed election in 2016 and was re-elected last January.

The vote was marred by allegations of ballot stuffing and was followed by two days of deadly protests.

Mr Azali has been accused of growing authoritarianism.

He served as president of the African Union between 2023 and 2024.