Former Mauritanian president jailed over corruption charges

By Mohammad al-Bakkay

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AA) - Mauritanian authorities have jailed former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in connection with corruption charges.

“Ould Abdel Aziz was held in prison,” his defense lawyer Mohamed Ould Eshdou told Anadolu Agency late Tuesday, without giving further details.

In March, Ould Abdel Aziz and 12 of his aides were investigated by Mauritanian judicial authorities over charges related to money laundering and providing suspicious privileges in government deals.

On April 4, judicial authorities froze the assets of Ould Abdel Aziz and his former aides and placed the former president under house arrest.

Ould Abdel Aziz came to power in 2008 after a military coup and served as president for two terms until 2019.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara