Mauritius President Resigns after Claims of Using NGO Credit Card to Buy Clothes, Jewelry

Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has stepped down following a scandal, where she used a credit card issued to her by a non-governmental organisation to buy luxury personal items, including clothes and jewelry.

Her attorney, Yousouf Mohamed told reporters that she submitted her resignation in the "national interest", in an abrupt change of mind after initially vowing she wouldn't stand down.

The Africa's only female Head of State said her resignation would take effect on March 23rd. Gurib-Fakim had initially vowed to fight the allegations that first appeared in a local newspaper, L'Express.

The newspaper reported that she used a bank card granted by an NGO to make personal purchases, including jewellery worth about 25,000 euros.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth had last week announced that Gurib-Fakim had agreed to resign, but in a rejoinder, the presidency hit out at "weeks of attacks and false allegations" and indicated that Gurib-Fakim would seek to clear her name and wouldn't step down.

It is not clear what caused her sudden about-turn, but her lawyer said that she was "relieved" and had made the decision to resign after enduring a "difficult time in recent weeks."

Gurib-Fakim, a chemistry professor, was appointed to the ceremonial post two years ago, becoming the island country’s first female President. She denied having done anything wrong and had refunded all the cash in question.

“I do not owe anything to anybody. Why is this issue coming up now almost a year later on the eve of our independence day celebrations,” she said in a speech on March 7th.

The NGO that issued the credit card supports education by offering scholarships, and president Ameenah Gurib-Fakim served there as an unpaid director.