Young and ambitious, Nour El Fath Azali, the son of Comoros President Azali Assoumani, seems to be positioning himself as a leader in waiting. As the ruling party of the Indian Ocean archipelago convened over the weekend to appoint a new secretary general, speculation grew that the 39-year-old Azali would assume the top position. However, the Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) ultimately reappointed incumbent secretary Youssoufa Mohamed Ali, a seasoned politician. Nevertheless, with President Assoumani eyeing another five-year term after next year’s elections, Azali’s ascent may have only been delayed.
Azali, currently serving as a private adviser to his father, has been steadily increasing his public presence since President Assoumani, also the head of the African Union, won a contentious election in 2019. Often seen alongside ministers at televised press conferences, Azali took center stage in organizing the CRC’s congress held in Moroni, the capital, where he exhibited his dedication and energy.
Considering the tumultuous history of the Comoros and concerns over President Assoumani’s authoritarian tendencies, many believe that Azali is being groomed to steer the country’s future. Government spokesman Houmed Msaidie expressed his hope for younger generations to engage in politics, sounding like an advocate for the rise of Azali. Soilihi Mohamed Djounaid, a prominent CRC member managing a state-owned energy company, described Azali as a true leader and visionary.
President Assoumani, a former army chief-of-staff, initially seized power in a 1999 coup before retiring from politics in 2006. However, he made a comeback ten years later, winning an election marked by violence and allegations of irregularities. In 2019, he orchestrated another round of elections after successfully convincing Comorans to support a controversial referendum extending presidential terms from one to two five-year terms.
It was in this political climate that Nour El Fath Azali emerged from relative obscurity. Shy and equipped with an MBA in international finance from the United States, Azali previously worked in a bank. However, despite his quick rise, not everyone is thrilled about his ascent.
An anonymous CRC insider accused Azali of arrogance, pointing out his ruthless tactics to consolidate power by eliminating his father’s supporters from the political arena. The source further expressed concerns about the CRC’s internal divisions, portraying the party as a “paper tiger” in the run-up to the forthcoming presidential election in just a few months.
Achmet Said Mohamed, a presidential candidate in 2019 who recently ended his self-imposed exile and returned to the Comoros, viewed Azali’s rise as indicative of the state of democracy in the country. He criticized Azali for merely relying on his father’s influence and referred to it as a common phenomenon seen in dictatorships.
Looking ahead, President Assoumani is widely expected to announce his candidacy for another term, with the first round of voting scheduled for January next year. As the political landscape of the Comoros continues to evolve, the prominence of Nour El Fath Azali and his potential to assume leadership positions draw attention, leaving the nation and its citizens contemplating the direction their country will take in the coming years.
Image Credit: Nour El Fath Azali/Twitter
