APA-Nouakchott – (Mauritania) Several other candidates, including activist Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, who came second in 2019, have also announced their candidacy.
Mauritania’s Islamist opposition party Tewassoul said on Thursday that its leader was standing as a candidate in the 29 June presidential election, marking the party’s first participation since 2009.
Hamadi Ould Sid’ El Moctar, head of the National Rally for Reform and Development, known as Tewassoul, will represent the party, which has become the main opposition party in the Mauritanian parliament since its legalisation in 2007, with 11 MPs out of 176.
Tewassoul had previously boycotted the 2014 presidential election and supported a candidate from outside its ranks in 2019.
The current president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, elected in 2019, is the favourite for the June poll, having announced his candidacy for a second term on 24 April.
Tewassoul justifies its decision to present a candidate by the need to change the current situation, which it describes as deplorable.
Several other candidates, including the activist Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, who came second in 2019, have also announced their candidacy.
The electoral campaign will officially begin on Friday 14 June at midnight and will end on Thursday 27 June at midnight.
AC/fss/APA/AFP