At least eight elderly women died Wednesday in a stampede at a charity event in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott. “At least eight people were killed, all elderly women, and two dozen others were injured,” a medical source said. The dreadful incident reportedly occurred in the compound of a rich Muslim man where people were invited […]
Mauritania
Mauritania: Supreme Court Frees Jailed Anti-slavery Activists
The Mauritania Supreme Court Tuesday demanded the immediate release of anti-slavery activists arrested two years ago and sentenced to two years in prison, reports say. Biram ould Abeid and Brahim ould Bilal respectively President and deputy President of IRA Mauritanie, an NGO combatting slavery in the country, have been ordered free by the Supreme Court […]
Mauritania: Opposition Rejects President’s Proposal to Suppress Senate
The Mauritanian opposition Saturday took to the streets to contest the President’s constitutional change proposal that will allow suppression of the senate. “We are protesting today to tell Ould Abdel Aziz that the Constitution is the red line,” Saleh Ould Henenna, Secretary General of FNDU, an opposition front made of 10 parties, told thousands of […]
Mauritania: President Wants Suppression of Senate
President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania Tuesday proposed the suppression of the Senate, which, he said, obstructs laws adoption. He called for a national referendum to decide over the move while giving three to four weeks to opposition parties to decide whether they will take part in the vote. “We are calling on the […]
Mauritania: Army Seizes 475 Kg of Drugs from Armed Traffickers
The Mauritanian army Wednesday snatched 475 kilograms of drugs from a group of traffickers after a chase and gun battle. According to army sources, the incident took place in the area of “Al Hank”, more than 250 km, north-east of the town of Zouerate. The traffickers were tracked by an army unit and a military […]
Mauritania: Court Upholds Death Penalty against Blogger, Final Decision Lies with Supreme Court
A Mauritanian court Thursday confirmed death penalty against the 33-year old blogger sentenced to death one year ago after publishing an alleged blasphemous article on Prophet Mohamed. The court upheld the sentence but handed the case over to the Supreme Court after finding him guilty of unfaith. Cheikh Ould Mohamed Ould Mkheitir also known as […]
Mauritania: 2 Arrested Journalists Obtain Pre-Trial Release
Two Mauritanian web journalists were Saturday set free temporarily after being arrested for defamation on Thursday, reports say. Jeddna Deida and Babakar Baye Ndiaye, respectively managing editor of “Mauriweb” and webmaster of “Cridem” were handed provisional release following their arrest on Thursday after the President’s son Badr Ould Abdel Aziz accused them of defamation for […]
Mauritania: Opposition Front Demands Sanctions against Ministers in Favor of Constitutional Change
Calls by some government ministers to change the constitution and allow the country’s President to run for elections in 2019 continue to stir condemnations as the leader of the opposition front has called government to sanction cabinet members who have expressed such a view. Saleh Ould Hanana, leader of the FNDU (coalition of opposition political […]
Mauritania-Spain: Agreement to Protect, Boost Investments
An agreement between Mauritania and Spain to protect and boost mutual investments came into force Thursday enabling both countries to expand economic cooperation. Signed on March 4, this agreement aims at scaling up bilateral economic cooperation. It also enables both countries to protect mutual investments by creating a legal framework for businessmen from both countries […]
Mauritania: Government Canvasses for President’s Stay in Power after 2019
Tensions raised high in Mauritania Wednesday as the Government went public calling for constitutional change to allow the current President to stand for elections in 2019, in contrast to current constitution which limits power to two terms in a row. On Tuesday, the Government’s spokesman Mohamed Lemine Ould Cheikh said at a press conference that […]









