Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, president of Mauritius and Africa's only female head of state, is refusing to resign amid allegations that she spent $27,000 on clothing and jewelry using a charity credit card, reports the BBC.

• The details: The credit card was given to Gurib-Fakim, who was a celebrated scientist before entering politics, by the Planet Earth Institute to cover travel expenses while promoting a science initiative abroad. The president's office has denied wrongdoing, claiming that that she inadvertently used an identical credit card from the same bank and that all expenses have been paid back to PEI.