Elections bring power change in Mauritania | News Africa | '
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (article image) has declared himself the winner of the presidential election in Mauritania. "We have won a victory," said the close confidant of outgoing President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz, who had in 2008 put in power.
Opposition complains of irregularities
According to the National Electoral Commission Ghazouani was after counting almost all votes at around 51.5 percent. The former chief of staff was after a campaign in which he had promised above all safety and continuity, as a clear favorite. Behind him, therefore, the opposition candidates Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar and Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid landed each with about 18 percent.
Four of the opposing candidates had complained of irregularities in the vote and the expulsion of opposition observers from some polling stations. Even before the election, the opposition had warned against electoral fraud and criticized the National Electoral Commission as partisan. Foreign election observers were not admitted.
A voter in the capital Nouakchott, where almost a quarter of the population lives
Boubacar was the toughest competitor in the election campaign; he himself was Prime Minister of the four-million-inhabitant state on the edge of the Sahara prior to a coup in 2008. He was supported by several opposition parties, including the Islamist Tewassoul party.
For a long time a democratic change of power
In the 2008 military coup, outgoing President Aziz came to power. He had been confirmed in elections in 2009 and 2014. This year, much to the surprise of many observers, he stuck to the constitutional cap on two terms and renounced his resignation. Instead, he built Ghazouani as successor.
"On the way to peace and prosperity with Ghazouani" says on this election poster
The West African country has experienced numerous violent changes of power since independence in 1960. Between 1978 and 1984 in particular, some military coups, revolts and constitutional changes occurred. Afterwards, President Maawiya Ould forced Sid'Ahmed Taya into a prolonged phase of power using repressive and authoritarian methods, before he was deposed by the military in 2005. Mauritania is classified as "not free" by the US-based Freedom House, and Transparency International's corruption index puts it in 143th place out of a total of 180.
ehl / ml (afp, rtr, Munzinger)
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