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Aziz, who led Mauritania, a pivotal country between the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa, until 2019, had taken steps to present his candidacy. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, the present ruler is his successor and one of his most loyal companions in the past. They are now both sworn enemies
Former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been ruled out of the June 29 presidential election for lack of the necessary sponsorship, his spokesman Mohamed Ould Djibril told journalists recently, terming such moves undemocratic and smacked of conspiracy.
Aziz, who led Mauritania, a pivotal country between the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa, until 2019, had taken steps to present his candidacy. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, the present ruler is his successor and one of his most loyal companions in the past. They are now both sworn enemies. The former president was sentenced in 2023 to five years in prison for illicit enrichment.
The government through the ruling party had set conditions requiring presidential candidates to get approvals from the municipal councillors and mayors. Only the opposition Islamist party Tewassoul has any room for maneuver, as it has the required number of municipal councilors. The opposition parties had previously denounced the law terming it unjust.
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Even if the former president had collected sponsorships, his qualifications would have been highly uncertain, say ruling party sources. Candidatures must be submitted to the Constitutional Council. However, according to the Constitution, the president “may be re-elected only once”, and Mr. Aziz has already served two terms.
