The authorities in Comoros say President Azali Assoumani has been wounded in a knife attack.

A government spokeswoman said he was stabbed during an attack near the archipelago’s capital, Moroni, and was only slightly injured.

She said the attacker had been arrested.

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.

The president also served as chairperson of the African Union between 2023 and 2024.

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