MAURITIUS – Ameenah Gurib-Fakim — the only woman head of state in Africa —is charged with using a bank card given by an NGO to make personalpurchases.
Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is to resign after becomingembroiled in a financial scandal, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announcedon Friday.
Ms, Gurib-Fakim, who is the only woman head of state in Africa, has beenaccused of using a bank card provided by an NGO to make personal purchasesand will step down after ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary ofindependence on March 12.
“The President of the Republic told me that she would resign from officeand we agreed on the date of her departure,” Mr. Jugnauth told reporters inPort Louis, capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago nation withoutrevealing the chosen date. “The interests of the country come first.”
When Ms. Gurib-Fakim (58) took the honorary position of president in 2015,she became the first woman to do so in Mauritian history.*Wrongdoings documented*
A scientist and biologist of international renown, Ms. Gurib-Fakim had beenunder pressure since the Mauritian daily *L’Express* published bankdocuments showing that she had used a credit card given to her by theLondon-based Planet Earth Institute to make thousands of dollars worth ofpersonal purchases.
The NGO is funded by the controversial Angolan billionaire Alvaro Sobrinhowho is himself being investigated for fraud.