Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani declared on Wednesday his intention to seek a second term in the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for June.
Having led the vast West African nation since 2019, Ghazouani has been credited with bringing stability to the Sahel region amidst the growing threat of insurgency.
In a statement, the 67-year-old president, who also serves as the current chairman of the African Union, expressed his desire to continue serving the Mauritanian people. “I have deemed it appropriate to address you directly, dear compatriots, through this letter, to inform you of my decision to present myself to you, so that you renew your confidence in me for a new term,” Ghazouani said.
With his El Insaf party securing a landslide victory in last year’s legislative elections by capturing 107 out of 176 seats in the National Assembly, Ghazouani emerges as the clear favourite in the upcoming polls. This victory placed his party significantly ahead of the Tewassoul party, which managed to secure only 11 seats.
Biram Dah Ould Abeid, a prominent anti-slavery activist and the runner-up in the previous presidential election, also threw his hat into the ring on Wednesday. Despite his political group lacking authorisation and legal recognition, Ould Abeid voiced concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. “We are moving forward, aware of the imperfection of the electoral register and the partiality and deficiencies of the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission),” he remarked.
Mauritania has experienced political turbulence in the past, enduring a series of coups from 1978 to 2008. However, the 2019 election marked a significant milestone as it represented the first peaceful transition of power between two elected presidents.
While insurgencies have plagued the Sahel region, particularly in neighbouring Mali, Mauritania has remained relatively unscathed, with no recorded attacks since 2011.
According to a presidential decree issued earlier this month, the electoral campaign is set to kick off at midnight on June 14 and conclude at midnight on June 27. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for June 29, with a potential second round taking place on July 14.