Ghazouani re-elected Mauritanian President

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has been re-elected as head of state following Saturday’s national vote, winning comfortably in the first round without the need for a run-off. The electoral commission website shows that he took over 56% of the vote, beating six opposition candidates. The BBC reports that in the second position was anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid with 22%.

The BBC meanwhile reports that President Ghazouani, a former army chief, is credited with establishing stability since his first election five years ago, after decades of political unrest and frequent coups.

He has been allies with Western partners such as France and the US but has also kept ties with junta-led neighbours including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have pivoted towards Russia in recent years.