Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mauritanians vote for new president in historic poll

Must read

Isaac Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzi is an experienced and award winning journalist from Ghana. He has worked for several media brands both in Ghana and on the International scene. Isaac Kaledzi is currently serving as an African Correspondent for DW.

Mauritanians on Saturday voted in a historic election to choose a new president.

The election will afford citizens the chance to choose a successor to President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz.

President Ould Abdel Aziz, 62 has been in power since 2008 after seizing power in a coup.

He decided to step down after serving his two five-year terms as an elected president.

More than a million people were expected to participate in Saturday’s election.

- Advertisement -

There are six candidates competing for the presidency but the frontrunner is Mohamed Ahmed Ould Ghazouani.

Ghazouani is the country’s defence minister and a close ally of the current president Ould Abdel Aziz.

Other candidates include former prime minister Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar, who is backed by Mauritania’s biggest Islamist party.


Another prominent candidate is popular activist and anti-slavery campaigner, Biram Dah Abeid.

Most of the candidates had promised to tackle the country’s poor living conditions among many citizens.

Mauritania was the last country in the world to formally abolish slavery in 1981 but slavery is still a major issue in the country.

Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz came to power through a coup in 2008. Photo: REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Mauritania achieved independence from France in 1960 but coups have been part of the country’s history.

There have been more than three coups in the country’s political history with the last taking place in 2008.

 

 

Source: Africafeeds.com

- Advertisement -

More articles

- Advertisement -

Latest article

- Advertisement -