President refuses to step down

Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has refused to resign and is vowing to fight allegations in the financial scandal engulfing her. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, Africa's only woman head of state is accused of using a credit card given to her by the London-based Planet Earth institute to make personal purchases worth thousands of dollars. The NGO is funded by Angolan billionaire Alvaro Sobrinho, who is himself being investigated for fraud. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth last week announced 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. However, a report on The Citizen site notes that the presidency slammed 'weeks of attacks and false allegations' and said Gurib-Fakim planned to clear her name. 'She is also willing to go to court to defend herself against the slanderous accusations,' her office said.