Prosecutors in Mauritania have urged an appeals court to impose a 20-year prison sentence on former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz for abuse of office and embezzlement, significantly increasing the five-year sentence he is currently appealing.
Aziz, who ruled the West African nation from 2008 to 2019, was convicted last year of using his position to unlawfully amass wealth. Lead prosecutor Sidi Mohamed Ould Di Ould Moulay told the court that Aziz had turned the presidency into an institution for blackmailing investors. The prosecution also called for the dissolution of Rahma, a charity founded by Aziz’s son, alleging that it was created for illicit purposes.
Aziz, who has been in custody since his initial trial began in January 2023, is appearing in court alongside several former top officials and advisers accused of illicit enrichment, money laundering, and influence peddling. The former leader has denied all charges, and his legal team is set to present its defence on Tuesday.
Investigators estimate that Aziz accumulated approximately $70 million in assets during his time in office. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in jail in December 2023, but his lawyers quickly appealed the ruling.
Aziz came to power in a 2008 coup but was barred from contesting the 2019 presidential election, which was won by his former ally Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. Since leaving office, he has faced mounting legal troubles, although Ghazouani has repeatedly denied any involvement in his prosecution.
