Mauritanian Former President Aziz Is Jailed Amid Graft Probe
Oudaa Marouf, 22 June 2021
A judge investigating corruption allegations against former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ordered that he be jailed, an opposition party said as it called for his release.
The imprisonment is “illegal, irresponsible and non-democratic,” Ould Louleid, president of Ribat National, an opposition party Aziz joined in April to rebuild his political career, said Monday in the capital, Nouakchott.
In March, Aziz was charged with economic mismanagement, money laundering and illicit enrichment, allegations his defense attorney said are political and intended to damage his reputation.
Aziz led Mauritania for a decade until 2019 and was succeeded by the ruling party’s candidate, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Prior to the last vote, Mauritania hadn’t had a peaceful transfer of power between elected presidents for five decades.
Aziz is the first leader of the North African country to be officially charged.
