Ex-Mauritanian leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz faces 20-year jail sentence in connection to ongoing trial

The prosecution in the ongoing trial of former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has requested a 20 year-prison sentence against the 66-year-old man accused of “power abuse” and “unlawful enrichment” during his tenure (2008-2019).

The former leader has been on trial since January 2023. His entourage has branded the trial politically motivated.

They have accused the incumbent President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, a General turned politician, of orchestrating the arrest of his former boss.

“All the elements in the hands of justice prove the constitution of a crime,” Magistrate Ahmed Ould Moustapha said.

The prosecutor also requested the seizure of the former President’s assets. In addition, the magistrate requested a ten-year-jail sentence against Yahya Ould Hademine and Mohamed Salem Ould El Bechir who separately served as Prime Ministers under Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. The two Prine Ministers should be also made to pay each $258,000 in fine. The prosecutor requested moreover the judge to seize their assets. Several other former officials close to the former leader are also standing on the trial.