Mauritania Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Sentence for Former President Aziz

Prosecutors in Mauritania have urged an appeals court to impose a 20-year prison sentence on former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz for abuse of office.

Aziz, who ruled from 2008 to 2019, is currently appealing a five-year sentence handed down in 2023 after being convicted of using his position to amass a personal fortune. Prosecutors, however, are pushing for a harsher penalty.

During a court session in Nouakchott, lead prosecutor Sidi Mohamed Ould Di Ould Moulay accused Aziz of turning the presidency into a tool for extorting investors. Authorities estimate that he accumulated assets worth $70 million while in power.

In addition to a longer sentence, prosecutors have called for the dissolution of Rahma, a charity founded by Aziz’s son, alleging it was established for illicit purposes.

Aziz, who has been in custody since his trial began in January 2023, appeared in court alongside several former officials and advisers. They face charges including abuse of office, illicit enrichment, influence peddling, and money laundering. The former president denies all charges against him.

The case is seen as a landmark moment in Mauritania’s ongoing fight against corruption and its efforts to uphold accountability at the highest levels of government.

Africanews/s.s