Gurib-Fakim, Africa’s only female head of state, submitted her resignation in the “national interest,” her lawyer Yousouf Mohamed said.
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced earlier this month that Gurib-Fakim had agreed to resign, with a date set for her departure after last Monday’s ceremony celebrating the Indian Ocean archipelago nation’s 50 years of independence.
Gurib-Fakim is an internationally renowned scientist and biologist. She was appointed president in 2015 and was previously a chemistry professor and science faculty dean at the University of Mauritius.
Gurib-Fakim had vowed to fight the accusations that first appeared in local newspaper L’Express that she used a bank card provided by an NGO to make personal purchases, including jewellery and luxury goods worth at least 25,000 euros.
Gurib-Fakim has been accused of buying jewellery and clothing using a credit card provided by an NGO, founded by an Angolan banker interested in doing business in Mauritius.
Gurib-Fakim whose role is mostly ceremonial, earlier had earlier said she was the victim of a smear campaign and said she would not resign. But by Saturday she had changed her mind.The World Bank ranks the country as the easiest place to do business in Africa.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, another female African head of state, stepped down as president of Liberia in January, handing power to President George Weah after an election.
