Mauritania's Presidential Election Results: Ghazouani Re-Elected
The president of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, has secured a second term in office with 56% of the votes in the recent elections, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni). This decisive victory eliminates the need for a second round of voting. Ghazouani's main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, who garnered 22% of the votes, has rejected the results, alleging electoral fraud.
Opposition's Allegations and Government's Response
The elections, which saw a participation rate of 55.4%, were conducted relatively calmly, but tensions escalated during the vote counting. Abeid accused the Ceni of executing an electoral coup and declared that he would only recognize his own results. Subsequently, law enforcement officers detained Abeid's campaign manager and surrounded his headquarters. The Minister of the Interior, Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine, claimed that the government thwarted an attempt to destabilize the country by a candidate inciting unrest among the youth.
Historical Context and Future Prospects
Ghazouani, a former head of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense, was designated by his predecessor, Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, as his successor in 2019. During his first term, Ghazouani maintained stability in Mauritania amidst regional turmoil, positioning the country as a key ally of the West in the Sahel. With significant natural resources and upcoming projects in gas and green hydrogen, Mauritania holds potential for economic growth despite existing poverty challenges. The official results, expected to be announced soon, will confirm the preliminary figures and solidify Ghazouani's victory.
- The Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to announce the official preliminary results later today. The latest count shows Ghazouani leading with 55%, Abeid with 22.76%, and the Islamist opposition leader Hamadi Ould Sidi El Moctar in third place with 13.27%. The elections are the eighth in Mauritania's history, and if no candidate had achieved an absolute majority, a second round would have been held on July 13.
- Mauritania, with twice the area of Spain but a population of only 4.7 million, has significant natural resources including fish, iron ore, and gold. The country is also expected to start exporting gas from the Gran Tortuga field shared with Senegal and advance its green hydrogen production projects. Despite these resources, 57% of the population lives in poverty, particularly in rural areas.
