Mauritania: Journalist arrested in wake of Presidential election released

Prominent Mauritanian journalist Ahmedou Ould Wedia was freed Monday after spending nearly two weeks in jail. He had been abducted on July 4 in the wake of late June Presidential elections.

Ould Wedia was ordered free by West Nouakchott public prosecutor, Le360.ma reports.

Reporter at private television channel “Morabitoune”, Ahmedou Ould Wedia is also an active member of the leading opposition in the parliament, the National Rally for Reforms and Development (RNRD). His family reported him missing few days after the June 22 elections, won by regime candidate Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

Dozens of media activists protested early this month in front of the Prime Minister’s office to demand the immediate release of the journalist that they believed was abducted by forces belonging to the national security directorate, DGSN.

The RNRD during the elections backed former Minister Sidi Mohamed ould Boubacar who ranked third, polling 18 per cent of votes.

The Islamist party and Ould Boubacar rejected the elections result.