Following allegations of electoral fraud by opposition politician Biram Dah Abeid, who came in second in last month’s presidential election, the Mauritanian government has said that the vote was conducted in a transparent manner.
Minister of Equipment and Transport and government spokesman Nani Ould Chrougha announced on Thursday, July 4, that the legal deadline for contesting the results of Mauritania’s presidential election has now expired without any appeals been lodged with the Constitutional Council.
The minister’s statement comes as opposition leader Biram Dah Abeid, president of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA), who won 22.10 percent of the vote, continues to contest the results, which gave victory to incumbent president Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani with 56.12 percent of the vote.
According to the interior minister, speaking to the press following a cabinet meeting, the election held on Saturday, June 29, were conducted in a transparent manner, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) publishing the results online at the same time.
He also stressed the importance of post-election security, justifying the internet shutdown as a necessary measure to maintain public order and condemning incitement to violence as harmful to the democratic process.
The minister reiterated that security was an absolute priority for the state.
Violence was reported in Kaédi, in the south of the country, where three people were killed, according to an official report from the interior ministry. Two died in custody, while the third died in hospital. Dozens of arrests were denounced by the anti-system coalition led by the IRA president.
Several heads of state congratulated Ghazouani on his re-election. In Africa, the presidents of Chad and Senegal praised his leadership and the trust of the Mauritanian people. The president of Tunisia underscored the strong ties between their countries, while the president of Djibouti praised the people’s support for Ghazouani.
Outside Africa, the Russian leader wished Mauritania success, the interim president of Iran looked forward to strengthening bilateral relations, and the president of Spain stressed the importance of Spanish-Mauritanian relations.
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to strengthening cooperation with Mauritania.
AC/sf/lb/as/APA