Mauritania: Appeal trial of former President Ould Abdel Aziz opens

The appeal trial of former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz opened Wednesday in Nouakchott. He is accused of abusing his power to amass a huge fortune.

The former Head of State, who ruled this largely desert country of 4.5 million people from 2008 to 2019, was sentenced at first instance to 5 years in prison for illicit enrichment in December 2023. His lawyers had appealed the decision.

He is appearing alongside a dozen senior officials and relatives, including two former Prime ministers and two former ministers and directors of large companies, for “illicit enrichment”, “abuse of office”, “influence peddling” or “money laundering”.

In detention since the start of his trial at first instance in January 2023, the former President appeared in good health at the hearing.

The appeal trial opened under high security surveillance. Supporters of the former Mauritanian Head of State, who tried to approach the courthouse, were kept away by the police.

At the time of his indictment in March 2021, investigators estimated that Ould Abdel Aziz, the son of a merchant, had accumulated assets and capital in more than ten years as Head of State at €67 million.
He is one of the few former African leaders convicted of illicit enrichment while in power.

He had been excluded from the June 29 presidential election, won by his successor Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, one of his most loyal companions in the past, due to a lack of necessary sponsorships.