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In Mauritania, the appeal trial of former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz took a significant turn on Monday, February 24. The attorney general requested a twenty-year prison sentence for the former head of state, accusing him of using his power to amass a substantial fortune. This request follows an initial five-year prison sentence handed down in December 2023.
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led Mauritania from 2008 to 2019, is on trial alongside about ten former senior officials and close associates. Among them are two former prime ministers, several ex-ministers, and directors of major public companies. The charges include «illicit enrichment», «abuse of office», «influence peddling», and «money laundering».
Prosecutor Sidi Mohamed Ould Di Ould Moulay emphasized that the former president had turned the presidency into a «bureau for blackmailing investors», highlighting the abuse of his authority for personal gain. He also called for the dissolution of the Rahma association, a charitable organization allegedly founded by a son of the former leader.
Since the start of his trial in January 2023, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been in detention. He has consistently denied the accusations, claiming to be the victim of a political plot orchestrated by his opponents. His initial arrest in August 2020 followed a parliamentary investigation revealing alleged mismanagement of public affairs during his presidency.
The defense will present its arguments on Tuesday, but no date has been announced for the final verdict from the court of appeal.
