Image copyright AFP Image caption Ameenah Gurib-Fakim became Mauritius's first woman to be appointed president in 2015

Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Africa's only female head of state, is to quit over a financial row.

She has been accused of using a bank card provided by a charity to make personal purchases worth tens of thousands of dollars.

She is to step down after ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the island's independence next week.

Denying wrongdoing, she said she had refunded all the money, Reuters news agency reports.

Ms Gurib-Fakim is a renowned scientist and in 2015 became the first woman to be appointed to the ceremonial position of president of Mauritius.

"The president of the republic told me that she would resign from office and we agreed on the date of her departure," Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth told reporters without giving the chosen date.

"The interest of the country comes first, and I am proud of Mauritius's image as a model of living democracy in the world."

He added it would take place before parliament returned at the end of the month.

The Mauritian daily L'Express published bank documents purporting to show Ms Gurib-Fakim had used a credit card given to her by the Planet Earth Institute (PEI) in London to buy thousands of dollars' worth of clothes, jewellery and other personal items.

According to the paper, the card was given to her as part of her work as an unpaid director for the charity.

One of the organisation's directors is Angolan businessman Alvaro Sobrinho who, the paper says, secured a permit to found an investment bank in Mauritius, prompting allegations of favouritism.

In a statement to the BBC, PEI London said that Ms Gurib-Fakim had refunded the money to its Mauritian sister organisation.

The organisation says it had given her a credit card to cover travel expenses while promoting African science, technology and innovation.

This story has been updated to reflect the statement from PEI.</s>PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim will step down next week, the prime minister said on Friday, after she was accused of using a credit card issued by an international non-governmental organisation to buy clothes and jewellery.

Pravind Jugnauth, the prime minister, told reporters Gurib-Fakim would resign after March 12, after the celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary.

He did not comment on the row over credit card expenditure but he has previously said everyone should shoulder their responsibility, when asked about the issue by reporters.

Gurib-Fakim, a chemistry professor, was appointed to the largely ceremonial post in 2015, as the island nation’s first female president, has denied any wrongdoing and said she had refunded all the money 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 March 7 speech.

The local L’express newspaper reported that the president had shopped in Italy and Dubai, using a credit card issued by Planet Earth Institute.

The organisation supports education by offering scholarships, and the president served there as an unpaid director. The newspaper reported that the card was to promote a doctorate programme named after the president.

Planet Earth Institute was not immediately available for comment.</s>Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Africa’s only female head of state, is to quit over a financial row.

She has been accused of using a bank card provided by a charity to make personal purchases worth tens of thousands of dollars.

She is to step down after ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the island’s independence next week.

Denying wrongdoing, she said she had refunded all the money, Reuters news agency reports.

Ms Gurib-Fakim is a renowned scientist and in 2015 became the first woman to be elected president of Mauritius.

“The president of the republic told me that she would resign from office and we agreed on the date of her departure,” Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth told reporters without giving the chosen date.

“The interest of the country comes first, and I am proud of Mauritius’s image as a model of living democracy in the world.”

He added it would take place before parliament returned at the end of the month.

Opposition parties have said they will boycott the independence celebrations if the president remains in power.

The Mauritian daily L’Express published bank documents purporting to show she had used a credit card given to her by the Planet Earth Institute in London to make thousands of dollars worth of personal purchases.</s>Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is to resign after becoming embroiled in a financial scandal, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced on Friday.

Gurib-Fakim, who is the only female head of state in Africa, has been accused of using a bank card provided by an NGO to make personal purchases and will step down after ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of independence on March 12.

"The President of the Republic told me that she would resign from office and we agreed on the date of her departure," Jugnauth told reporters in Port Louis, capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago nation without revealing the chosen date.

"The interests of the country come first."

When Gurib-Fakim, 58, took the honorary position of president in 2015 she became the first woman to do so in Mauritian history.

A scientist and biologist of international renown, she had been under pressure since the Mauritian daily L'Express published bank documents showing that Gurib-Fakim had used a credit card given to her by the London-based Planet Earth Institute to make thousands of dollars worth of personal purchases.

The NGO is funded by the controversial Angolan billionaire Alvaro Sobrinho who is himself being investigated for fraud.</s>The president of Mauritius and Africa's only female head of state, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, is set to step down from her post over an allegation involving her shopping spree. The former scientist-turned-president, who assumed office in 2015, will resign next week after she was accused of using a credit card provided by Planet Earth Institute, a charity organization, for her personal use.

She had reportedly made purchases worth thousands of US dollars on clothes and jewelry, BBC reported.

Gurib-Fakim, who was facing impeachment proceedings after the financial scandal, agreed to step down despite claiming innocence.

She claimed that she had not been a part of any misconduct as she refunded all the money that she had spent on shopping. "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," Gurib-Fakim was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Mauritian prime minister Pravind Jugnauth confirmed the departure of Gurib-Fakim and said that she would resign later this month.

"The president of the republic told me that she would resign from office and we agreed on the date of her departure. The interest of the country comes first, and I am proud of Mauritius's image as a model of living democracy in the world," BBC quoted Jugnath as saying.

Albeit the Prime Minister avoided commenting on the controversial shopping row, he said that every individual needs to understand and work towards their duties in life, hinting at Gurib-Fakim's allegations for misusing a credit card to spend on luxury items.

Gurib-Fakim had reportedly bought clothes and jewelry in Italy and Dubai using the international non-governmental organization's credit card that was given to her to promote scholarships and education, according to L'express newspaper.

"How does it benefit the country for her to be on the Forbes list? This is an important factor which encouraged the government to get rid of her. They felt she wasn't a heavyweight in politics and had no problem sacking her," Rabin Bhujun, a Mauritian media personnel, was quoted as saying by CNN.</s>Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Africa’s only female head of state, is to quit over a financial row.

She has been accused of using a bank card provided by a charity to make personal purchases worth tens of thousands of dollars.

She is to step down after ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the island’s independence next week.

Denying wrongdoing, she said she had refunded all the money, Reuters news agency reports.

Ms Gurib-Fakim is a renowned scientist and in 2015 became the first woman to be appointed to the ceremonial position of president of Mauritius.

“The president of the republic told me that she would resign from office and we agreed on the date of her departure,” Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth told reporters without giving the chosen date.

“The interest of the country comes first, and I am proud of Mauritius’s image as a model of living democracy in the world.”

He added it would take place before parliament returned at the end of the month.

The Mauritian daily L’Express published bank documents purporting to show Ms Gurib-Fakim had used a credit card given to her by the Planet Earth Institute (PEI) in London to buy thousands of dollars worth of clothes, jewellery and other personal items.

According to the paper, the card was given to her as part of her work as an unpaid director for the charity.

One of the organisation’s directors is Angolan businessman Alvaro Sobrinho who, the paper says, secured a permit to found an investment bank in Mauritius, prompting allegations of favouritism.

The BBC has approached the PEI for comment.</s>The President of Mauritius is under pressure to resign over involvement in a financial scandal.

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is accused of using a credit card provided by non-profit organisation Planet Earth Institute to make personal purchases of at least €25,000 (about $30,767).

Government and opposition demanded her resignation; after a brief resistance she finally gave in.

“The President of the Republic has told me that she will resign from her post. We have agreed on a date, but I will not announce it., said Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth.

“The interest of the country comes first and I am proud of Mauritius’ image as a model of living democracy in the world. It is important that we celebrate our 50th anniversary of independence with serenity as a nation, as a united people, and as proud of our homeland,” he added.

On 12 March, Mauritius will celebrate 50 years of independence. The country is however affected by a crisis at the top of the state.

 Opposition parties denounced these compromises and have decided to boycott the official celebrations.

““The President has not resigned but it is only the Prime minister who told the press. It is unfortunate that the President is embroiled in such a scandal during the celebrations. My party, the Labour Party, which fight for independence is very saddened by this situation. This is why the Labour Party does not join these celebrations,” said Osman Mahomed, a Member of Parliament.

The only female head of state in Africa at present, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, has been in office since June 2015.

 However, the world-renowned bio-diversity scientist leaves the presidency through the back door.</s>Port Louis : Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is to resign after becoming embroiled in a financial scandal, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced on Friday.

Gurib-Fakim, who is the only female head of state in Africa, has been accused of using a bank card provided by an NGO to make personal purchases and will step down after ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of independence on March 12.

“The President of the Republic told me that she would resign from office and we agreed on the date of her departure,” Jugnauth told in Port Louis, capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago nation without revealing the chosen date.</s>Mauritian President, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, will step down next week, the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, said on Friday.

Jugnauth said Gurib-Fakim would resign after she was accused of using a credit card issued by an international Non-Governmental Organisation to buy clothes and jewellery.

 Ameenah Gurib-Fakim

The prime minister added that the president would resign after the March 12 celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary.

The prime minister, who did not comment on the row over credit card expenditure, had

 previously said that everyone involved would shoulder his or her responsibility when asked about the issue by reporters.

Gurib-Fakim, a chemistry professor appointed to the largely ceremonial post in 2015 as the island nation’s first female president had denied any wrongdoing, saying she had refunded the money 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 March 7 speech.

The local L’express newspaper reported that the president had shopped in Italy and Dubai using a credit card issued by Planet Earth Institute.

The organisation supports education by offering scholarships, and the president served there as unpaid director.

The newspaper reported that the card was to promote a doctorate programme named after the president.</s>PORT LOUIS: Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim will step down next week, the prime minister said on Friday, after she was accused of using a credit card issued by an international non-governmental organisation to buy clothes and jewellery.

Pravind Jugnauth, the prime minister, told reporters Gurib-Fakim would resign after March 12, following the celebration of the country's 50th anniversary.

He did not comment on the row over credit card expenditure but he has previously said everyone should shoulder their responsibility, when asked about the issue by reporters.
Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is to resign over a financial scandal, where she was accused of using a charity bank card to make personal purchases worth tens of thousands of dollars.