Africa's Last Woman President Resigns Amid Charity Scandal

Africa's only remaining woman head of state has announced that she will step down from the position amid a financial scandal.

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According to a legal representative, Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is set to demit office, on Friday, after allegations surfaced that she used a charity organization bank card for personal purchases.

Planet Earth Institute (PEI) gave the president the credit card to cover travel expenses while promoting African science, technology and innovation. Gurib-Fakim initially refused to resign, saying she was the victim of a smear campaign.

A statement from Gurib-Fakim's office said she “had an identical credit card from the same bank [and] inadvertently used the card from PEI for expenses not linked to her mission.”

Gurib-Fakim has not issued an official statement but, through representatives, adamantly denies all claims of impropriety.

"Her Excellency Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has never received any gifts, salary or favors from the Planet Earth Institute. She is very surprised to be the subject of these cruel and violent attacks one year later, " the statement from her office shared.

In February, Local L'Express newspaper broke the story that the president, a renowned scientist, used a credit card given to her by PEI to buy jewelry and clothes.

Approximately US$27,000 that was used from the card had been repaid. PEI London confirmed that Gurib-Fakim had refunded the money.

PEI posted a statement on their website saying that “the PEI accepted the resignation of Prof. Gurib-Fakim on March 20, 2017. She had repaid our Mauritian sister foundation for sums apparently inadvertently used on a credit card issued to her to cover logistical expenses whilst traveling to promote African science, technology and innovation.”

Gurib-Fakim's resignation will take effect on March 23.

The former chemistry professor and science faculty dean at the University of Mauritius appointed the president in 2015. But, unlike Liberia's ex-leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Gurib-Fakim's duties are largely ceremonial.

Gurib-Fakim received the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science.