Latest news with #Assoumani
Kuwait News Agency
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait News Agency
Egypt, Comoros affirm alignment on regional, int'l Issues
CAIRO, May 4 (KUNA) -- Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi affirmed, Sunday, that Egypt and Comoros share aligned views on key regional and international issues, including African Union (AU) matters, the situations in Gaza, Sudan, the Horn of Africa and Red Sea security. Speaking at a joint press conference with the President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, following bilateral talks in Cairo, Al-Sisi emphasized the importance of the Sahel and Sahara Group's role in combating terrorism. He noted that discussions covered development challenges, poverty reduction, debt relief, and climate change, with agreement on maintaining unified African positions and ensuring fair African representation in international institutions. Al-Sisi expressed deep appreciation for the historic ties between Egypt and Comoros, underpinned by shared Arab, African, and Islamic identities, and underscored the commitment to boosting bilateral cooperation in economic, investment, and trade sectors. He also highlighted Egypt's readiness - through its government and companies - to support Comoros' development plans by sharing expertise gained from Egyptian development projects across Africa, and this includes collaboration in health, education, tourism, fisheries, energy, and infrastructure. Al-Sisi stressed the need to enhance trade between the two countries, particularly given their joint membership in Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), to achieve regional integration and boost intra-African commerce. On his part, President Assoumani praised Egypt's efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire, reject genocide against the Palestinian people, and oppose all plans aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land. Assoumani reaffirmed the shared stance with Egypt on supporting a peaceful settlement and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. He also highlighted Comoros' continued political support for Egypt in international forums and expressed strong mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across sectors such as culture, education, and health. According to Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Mohammad Al-Shenawy, the two leaders held a private meeting, during which they reviewed ways to deepen cooperation and the talks concluded with the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding to enhance bilateral ties. (end)
Egypt Today
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt and Comoros reach deal to facilitate entry for medical travelers: President Assoumani
FILE - Comorian President Azali Assoumani CAIRO – 4 May 2025: Egypt and Comoros have reached an agreement to facilitate entry for citizens of either country seeking medical treatment, Comorian President Azali Assoumani stated on Sunday. Speaking in a press conference with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at Cairo's Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Sunday, Assoumani pointed out to various agreements and MoUs signed between Egypt and Comoros today, aimed at enhancing their cooperation. He emphasized the shared commitment between the two countries to developing and strengthening bilateral relations. Both leaders have emphasized joint action to enhance the two countries' economic and commercial relations and boost investments. Sisi underlined the keenness to leverage Egyptian expertise in implementing development projects in African countries across various economic sectors. 'I affirmed the Egyptian government's and companies' willingness to support development plans in Comoros, particularly the Emerging Comoros Plan for 2030,' Sisi said. Sisi expressed Egypt's full readiness to cooperate with Comoros in various fields, particularly health, education, tourism, fisheries, energy, and infrastructure. Sisi said they discussed issues related to the African Union as well as the situations in Gaza and Sudan and counterterrorism efforts. The global Freedom Flotilla Coalition says its ship, loaded with humanitarian aid for Gaza, was struck with drones in international waters off Malta early Saturday, blaming Israel for the attacks#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps:// — Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) May 3, 2025 Their discussions also covered development challenges and efforts of overcoming poverty, alleviating debt burdens, and mitigating climate change impacts. Sisi said he agreed with Assoumani on the need to maintain unified African positions on various issues and work to ensure Africa's fair representation in international institutions. Assoumani lauded the strong cultural and educational ties between Egypt and Comoros, stressing that these ties have contributed to the training of numerous Comorian professionals. He highlighted the significant number of Comorian students at Al-Azhar University, stating that Al-Azhar was instrumental in training the former Grand mufti of Comoros, whom he considered a spiritual father. He affirmed Comoros' continued political support for Egypt in various international forums, particularly on major issues of global concern. With his country celebrating the 50th independence anniversary, Assoumani expressed gratitude to Egypt for its support in all matters related to their sovereignty. He emphasized the two countries' shared commitment to developing and strengthening bilateral relations. He affirmed Comoros' ambition to become an emerging nation by 2030, noting that Egypt possesses the expertise and capabilities to support them in all fields. The Comorian president commended Egypt's leading efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, expressing his rejection of the genocide against the Palestinian people and all plans aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Comoros president says a 'child' will replace him, opponents see succession plan
By Abdou Moustoifa MORONI (Reuters) - (The Jan. 24 story said the president's comments confirmed accusations he had been grooming his son to take over. The story has been corrected to show the president's remarks have been subject to differing interpretations, and the government denies he was talking about his son. The translation of the comments has also been corrected to show he referred to 'a child' who would succeed him. The original story quoted him as referring to "my son". The Comorian word he used can mean 'child,' 'son' or 'daughter.') Comoros President Azali Assoumani said in a speech to supporters that he would "take a child to put in my place" when he leaves office, comments his critics interpreted as confirming their suspicions that he is grooming his son to take over. The president's office denied in a statement on Jan. 24, the day after the speech, that his comments referred to his son, government secretary general Nour El Fath. It said instead that he was referring to all Comorians as his children. The Comorian word that Assoumani used in his remarks can mean either "child", "son" or "daughter". Assoumani, whose re-election a year ago faced opposition allegations of voter fraud, put El Fath in charge of coordinating government affairs last year and granted him far-reaching powers over the cabinet. Referring to when the time comes for him to leave power, Assoumani said in a speech to supporters on Moheli, one of the archipelago's three main islands: 'I have three homes: my house, the party and the presidency. If you do not chase me out, I will leave by myself. I hope to do it alive, on my own two feet and, at the moment of leaving, to take a child to put in my place." In its statement, the president's office said Assoumani's remarks, delivered in Comorian, were not referring to El Fath. "The government wishes to emphasise that at no time did President Azali speak of a possible succession of his son, Nour El Fath, as the head of the state," it said. "He instead spoke of 'a child' who would succeed him, knowing that it is customary in the Comoros to describe every citizen as 'a child', without necessarily speaking of one's own offspring." The statement said the president had rejected the idea of family succession in an interview on Jan. 15 with the France 24 television station. In that interview, he pointed out that El Fath would be ineligible to run for president in 2029 under the constitution, which says the presidency must rotate among the Comoros' three islands every 10 years. Assoumani said El Fath would be free to run for president if he chose to when it was again his island's turn. Opponents of Assoumani, however, said the speech was evidence of a dynastic plan. "With this statement, he has only made official what we already knew," said Abdallah Mohamed Daoudou, a spokesperson for an opposition coalition. "But Azali is deluding himself. The Comorian people and politicians will not accept the installation of a dynastic power or a monarchy in the Comoros," Daoudou told Reuters. Mahamoud Salim Hafi, the deputy secretary-general of the government, told Reuters that the opposition "wanted to hear something that was not said" in the president's remarks. "The president has never wanted to and will never hand over power to his son," he said. "Comoros will never become a dynasty. We are in a republican state." Assoumani's ruling party decisively won parliamentary elections this month, although opposition parties either boycotted the vote or rejected the results, claiming fraud. Comoros has a population of about 800,000. It has witnessed around 20 coups or attempted coups since winning independence from France in 1975. Assoumani first came to power in 1999 through a coup and has won four elections since 2002. Constitutional reforms in 2018 extended a requirement that the presidency rotate among the three main islands from every five years to 10. (Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Michael Perry)
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Comoros president Assoumani denies he intends to hand power to son
By Abdou Moustoifa MORONI (Reuters) - (This Jan. 25 story has been corrected to clarify that President Assoumani's remarks have been interpreted in different ways by the government and his opponents. The translation of Assoumani's comments has also been corrected to show that he referred to 'a child' who would succeed him. The original story quoted him as referring to "my son". The Comorian word he used can mean either 'child,' 'son' or 'daughter') Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who came to power in 1999 through a coup and has won four elections in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation since 2002, has denied he intends to hand over power to his son. Assoumani said on Jan. 23 in a speech to supporters on the island of Moheli that he would "take a child to put in my place" when he leaves office, comments which his critics interpreted as confirming their suspicions that he is grooming his son to take over. The Comorian word for child that Assoumani used in his remarks can mean either "child," "son," or "daughter." The president's office denied in a statement on Jan. 24, the day after the speech, that his comments referred to his son, government secretary general Nour El Fath. It said instead that he was referring to all Comorians as his children. "The government wishes to emphasise that at no time did President Azali speak of a possible succession of his son Nour El Fath, as the head of the state," it said. "He instead spoke of 'a child' who would succeed him, knowing that it is customary in the Comoros to describe every citizen as 'a child', without necessarily speaking of one's own offspring." The statement noted the president had previously rejected the idea of "family succession" and that his successor would have to come from Anjouan, one of Comoros' three main islands. According to Comoros' constitution the presidency must rotate among the three islands every 10 years. El Fath would therefore not be eligible to replace his father at the end of the presidential term in 2029 unless the constitution is changed. Assoumani's latest election victory came in 2022, though the results were rejected by the opposition who said the poll was tainted by irregularities. Assoumani has put his son in charge of coordinating government affairs and granted him far-reaching powers over the cabinet. His ruling party decisively won parliamentary elections this month, although opposition parties either boycotted the vote or rejected the results, claiming fraud. Comoros has a population of about 800,000. It has witnessed around 20 coups or attempted coups since winning independence from France in 1975.
Reuters
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Comoros president says a 'child' will replace him, opponents see succession plan
MORONI, Jan 24 (Reuters) - (The Jan. 24 story said the president's comments confirmed accusations he had been grooming his son to take over. The story has been corrected to show the president's remarks have been subject to differing interpretations, and the government denies he was talking about his son. The translation of the comments has also been corrected to show he referred to 'a child' who would succeed him. The original story quoted him as referring to "my son". The Comorian word he used can mean 'child,' 'son' or 'daughter.') Comoros President Azali Assoumani said in a speech to supporters that he would "take a child to put in my place" when he leaves office, comments his critics interpreted as confirming their suspicions that he is grooming his son to take over. The president's office denied in a statement on Jan. 24, the day after the speech, that his comments referred to his son, government secretary general Nour El Fath. It said instead that he was referring to all Comorians as his children. The Comorian word that Assoumani used in his remarks can mean either "child", "son" or "daughter". Assoumani, whose re-election a year ago faced opposition allegations of voter fraud, put El Fath in charge of coordinating government affairs last year and granted him far-reaching powers over the cabinet. Referring to when the time comes for him to leave power, Assoumani said in a speech to supporters on Moheli, one of the archipelago's three main islands: 'I have three homes: my house, the party and the presidency. If you do not chase me out, I will leave by myself. I hope to do it alive, on my own two feet and, at the moment of leaving, to take a child to put in my place." In its statement, the president's office said Assoumani's remarks, delivered in Comorian, were not referring to El Fath. "The government wishes to emphasise that at no time did President Azali speak of a possible succession of his son, Nour El Fath, as the head of the state," it said. "He instead spoke of 'a child' who would succeed him, knowing that it is customary in the Comoros to describe every citizen as 'a child', without necessarily speaking of one's own offspring." The statement said the president had rejected the idea of family succession in an interview on Jan. 15 with the France 24 television station. In that interview, he pointed out that El Fath would be ineligible to run for president in 2029 under the constitution, which says the presidency must rotate among the Comoros' three islands every 10 years. Assoumani said El Fath would be free to run for president if he chose to when it was again his island's turn. Opponents of Assoumani, however, said the speech was evidence of a dynastic plan. "With this statement, he has only made official what we already knew," said Abdallah Mohamed Daoudou, a spokesperson for an opposition coalition. "But Azali is deluding himself. The Comorian people and politicians will not accept the installation of a dynastic power or a monarchy in the Comoros," Daoudou told Reuters. Mahamoud Salim Hafi, the deputy secretary-general of the government, told Reuters that the opposition "wanted to hear something that was not said" in the president's remarks. "The president has never wanted to and will never hand over power to his son," he said. "Comoros will never become a dynasty. We are in a republican state." Assoumani's ruling party decisively won parliamentary elections this month, although opposition parties either boycotted the vote or rejected the results, claiming fraud. Comoros has a population of about 800,000. It has witnessed around 20 coups or attempted coups since winning independence from France in 1975. Assoumani first came to power in 1999 through a coup and has won four elections since 2002. Constitutional reforms in 2018 extended a requirement that the presidency rotate among the three main islands from every five years to 10.
