Headlines Mauritania

Mauritania: President Ould Abdel Aziz Denies any Attempt to Stay in Power

The Mauritanian President last week indicated he never planned to change the constitution to be able to run again for elections at the end of his current mandate ending in 2019, reports say. Tension has risen since March between the opposition and the ruling party after some ministers and lawmakers suggested change of the constitution […]

Headlines Mauritania

Tough Times for Slavery Abolitionists in Mauritania

Mauritanian authorities arrested last Sunday scores of anti-slavery activists on the backdrop of riots and clashes last week with security forces in Nouakchott. The riots started when security forces stormed slump dwellings occupied for decades by the Haratin ethnic group, many of them former slaves. The authorities accused the members of the Initiative for the […]

Headlines Mauritania

Mauritania’s President Challenges Washington to Produce Alleged Secret Agreement with al Qaeda

Mauritanian President has called on Washington to produce evidence of the alleged secret deal between Nouakchott and the al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) on a truce during which the terrorist group would cease abductions and militancy in Mauritania for a renewable one-year period, and in return, Mauritania would release all al Qaeda prisoners. The […]

Headlines Mauritania

Maurirtania: President Ould Abdel Aziz Denies any Attempt to Stay in Power

The Mauritanian leader last week indicated he never planned to change the constitution to be able to run again for elections at the end of his current mandate coming to end in 2019. Tension has risen since March between the opposition and the ruling party after some ministers and lawmakers suggested constitutional amendments so that […]

Headlines Mauritania

Mauritania: Eight People Killed in Alms Distribution Event

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 […]

Headlines 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 […]

Headlines Mauritania

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 […]

Headlines Mauritania

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 […]

Headlines Mauritania

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 […]

Headlines Mauritania

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 […]