Investigation into the death of young Comorian soldier in detention closed

The Moroni Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday the closure of the investigation into the death in custody of Ahmed Abdou, a young soldier who had slightly injured Comorian President Azali Assoumani with a knife. However, no details were given as to the causes of his death.

Reactions from the opposition and human rights activists

The announcement sparked outrage among opposition and human rights activists, who have strongly criticized what they see as a “denial of justice.” They deplore the lack of transparency surrounding the circumstances surrounding the death of the young soldier, who was arrested after attacking the head of state near Moroni on September 13.

Details of arrest and death

After his arrest, Ahmed Abdou was placed in solitary confinement. According to the statement published by the Prosecution in the state-run newspaper Al-Watwan, his remains were discovered the following morning when investigators went to question him. The Prosecution said the soldier’s body was found lying down and lifeless. A military doctor determined the time of death to be 2 a.m., saying there were no visible gunshot, blunt or sharp injuries. On this basis, the Prosecution considered that there was no need to continue the investigation.

Body handed over to family and no autopsy

Moroni prosecutor Ali Mohamed Djounaid said that Ahmed Abdou’s body was immediately handed over to his family, ruling out the possibility of an autopsy. The deceased was buried a few hours later, in accordance with Muslim rites, the majority religion in the Comoros.

No response on investigation into attack on president

In parallel, another investigation is underway concerning the circumstances and motivations of the attack on President Azali. However, the prosecutor did not provide further details on the progress of this investigation when questioned by AFP.

Conclusion

The abrupt end of this investigation leaves several questions unanswered, particularly on the real causes of the young soldier’s death. The lack of an autopsy and the reaction of the opposition highlight a possible crisis of confidence in the Comorian judicial system, while the attack on the president continues to raise questions.