Nouakchott, Mauritania-Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the former President of Mauritania, has been barred from participating in the upcoming June 29 presidential election due to a lack of necessary sponsorships, as confirmed by his spokesman, Mohamed Ould Djibril.
This decision has sparked significant controversy and allegations of undemocratic practices by the current government.
Aziz, who served as the leader of Mauritania—a key nation bridging the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa—until 2019, had expressed intentions to contest the presidency against his former ally and current president, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
The relationship between Aziz and Ghazouani has notably deteriorated, evolving into an open conflict that has now intersected with electoral politics.
The exclusion of Aziz from the ballot comes amid stringent conditions imposed by the ruling party, which require presidential candidates to secure approvals from municipal councillors and mayors.
This system has been criticized for consolidating power within the hands of the ruling and opposition Islamist party Tewassoul, the latter possessing the requisite municipal support to maneuver within these constraints.
The sponsorship requirement has been denounced by opposition parties as unjust, accusing the majority parties of manipulating electoral processes to select their competitors and facilitate what they describe as a "unilateral electoral parody."
This sentiment was echoed in a joint statement by a dozen opposition candidates, including Aziz, who condemned the hegemony of the majority parties.
Further complicating Aziz's potential candidacy is his legal standing, having been sentenced in 2023 to five years in prison for illicit enrichment. Additionally, constitutional stipulations would have posed another hurdle.
Despite any efforts to gather sponsorships, Aziz’s eligibility would remain questionable due to a constitutional clause limiting presidents to a single re-election, which Aziz has already fulfilled.
This electoral exclusion underscores deeper issues of political friction and governance in Mauritania, as the country approaches a pivotal election that may further expose the rifts within its political landscape.
