JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The president of the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius, Africa's only female head of state, has resigned amid a financial scandal.

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim Gurib-Fakim submitted her resignation in the "national interest," her lawyer Yousouf Mohamed told reporters Saturday, according to local news reports. He said her resignation is effective on March 23.

It has been alleged that Gurib-Fakim made personal purchases with a credit card provided by an NGO, whose Angolan founder has sought to do business in Mauritius and is under investigation for alleged fraud in Portugal.

Gurib-Fakim, who was appointed president in 2015, was previously a chemistry professor and science faculty dean at the University of Mauritius.