Ghazouani bids re-Election as Mauritanians cast ballots in presidential poll
Casting of ballots has commenced as Mauritanians head to the polls on Saturday in a presidential election that sees incumbent Mohamed Ould Ghazouani seeking another term in office.
Ghazouani will be taking on six other challengers in the West African desert nation.
The 67-year old incumbent leader has vowed to accelerate investments to spur a commodities boom in the country of 5 million people, ravaged by poverty despite its fossil fuel and mineral resources.
President Ghazouani, who was first elected in 2019, is likely to secure a second term in Saturday’s election, given the ruling party’s significant influence.
He faces six challengers, including Biram Dah Abeid, a prominent anti-slavery activist who garnered 18% of the vote in the previous election.
Other contenders include lawyers, economists, and an Islamist party representative.
Approximately 2 million voters are registered to cast their ballots, with corruption and youth employment being major concerns.
During his tenure since 2019, Ghazouani, who is the current AU chair, has maintained relative stability in Mauritania, unlike its Sahel neighbours like Mali, which have been plagued by insurgencies and military coups.
He also promised to invest in renewable energy and expand gold, uranium, and iron ore mining to boost revenues and enhance employment opportunities.
