Former president of Mauritania jailed for 15 years over corruption

The former president of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, was handed a 15-year jail sentence and fined $3 million by an appeals court of the country on May 14th, following a former sentence of five years issued in 2023 over corruption.

Aziz, who once served as a military general before he became president between 2009 to 2019 had been found guilty of illicit self-enrichment as well as money laundering, according to Africanews and agencies.

Aziz assisted the running of two coups before his presidency in the African nation and becoming a counterterrorism ally for the West, The Washington Post reported on May 14th.

Investigators have said the former president accumulated assets worth more than $70 million during his tens years as the leader. Authorities have kept Aziz in custody since last year, when they initially convicted him.

The trial attracted global attention as a rare case of an African leader facing corruption charges while in office. Aziz’s lawyers rejected the accusations as politically-driven, claiming they arise from a dispute with President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.

Aziz and Ghazouani, formerly close allies, experienced a significant fall out following Mauritania’s first peaceful democratic power transition during 2019. The friction intensified when Aziz sought to regain power within the government. In 2020, a parliamentary commission initiated a comprehensive probe into alleged corruption during his administration, ultimately implicating 11 others people.

On May 14th, the verdict acquitted six senior officials from the ex-president’s administration. It subsequently sentenced Aziz’s son-in-law to two years of imprisonment for influence peddling. The court also issued the cessation of the “Errahma” (Mercy) Foundation, led by Aziz’s son, and the confiscation of his assets.

Aziz’s sentencing may signify a pivotal moment in Mauritania’s political and judicial history, pointing to a stronger stance against corruption. Nonetheless, the case remains politically sensitive in a nation still consolidating democratic institutions.

The government has similarly underscored its commitment to accountability. Middle East Monitor via RT Arabic reported on May 1st that Mauritania firmly denied any link to the visit of Mohamed Al-Mukhtar, an adviser to the commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. Authorities have accused Al-Mukhtar of links to RSF-led assaults during Sudan’s current war, including civilian-directed actions.

An Amnesty International report recorded 36 incidents of rape, gang rape, and sexual slavery by the forces from April 2023 to October last year, Middle East Eye reported on April 11th. The organisation also declared these sexual violence cases qualify as war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity.

The Washington Post, Africanews and agencies, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor via RT Arabic