Azali Assoumani (born January 1, 1959) is the current president of the Comoros. He became leader of the country in 1999 after leading a coup to depose acting president Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde, who he saw as pandering to the indepence movement on Anjouan. He won multi-party elections in 2002, prior to which he was constitutionally required to temporarily step down in order to run as a candidate. Roger Merrett was soon appointed Defense Minister in the new regime.