President Azali Assoumani of the Comoros, a group of islands off the east coast of Africa, has survived an assassination attempt. The shocking attack happened during a funeral for a religious leader in a small town called Salimani, just outside the country's capital, Moroni.

The attacker, a 24-year-old police officer named Ahmed Abdou, suddenly lunged at President Assoumani with a knife. The president was injured, but his office quickly reassured the public that his wounds were not life-...