Mauritania’s Ghazouani wins re-election with 56.12% of vote

July 1, 2024 21

Mauritania’s new president Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani looks on during the swearing-in ceremony, at a conference center in Nouakchott, on August 1, 2019. Mauritania, roiled by a history of military coups and upheaval, saw its first transfer of power between elected leaders on August 1, 2019 as President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz handed over to his successor. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani was sworn in at a conference centre near the capital Nouakchott before a crowd of 5,000 people. (Photo by Seyllou / AFP) (Photo by SEYLLOU/afp/AFP via Getty Images)

Mauritania’s incumbent President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani has comfortably won re-election, receiving 56.12 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidential poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said Monday.

The victory gives the former army chief a second term as head of the vast desert country, seen as a rock of relative stability in Africa’s volatile Sahel region and set to become a gas producer.

Ghazouani placed well ahead of his main rival, anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, who won 22.10 percent of votes in Saturday’s election, according to results announced by CENI chief Dah Ould Abdel Jelil.

Abeid said Sunday he would not recognise the results of CENI, which he accused of being manipulated by the government.

Ghazouani’s other main rival, Hamadi Ould Sid’ El Moctar, who heads the Islamist Tewassoul party, came third with 12.78 percent, according to CENI.

“We did everything we could to prepare the conditions for a good election and we were relatively successful. I congratulate everyone,” said the head of the electoral commission.

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AFP

(NAMPA / AFP)

Written by: Staff Writer

anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid CENI Election Results Electoral Commission gas producer Hamadi Ould Sid' El Moctar Independent National Electoral Commission Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani re-election Sahel Region Tewassoul party