Mauritanian opposition demands ex-official's release

By Mohamed Bakay

NOUAKCHOTT (AA) - Mauritanian opposition parties on Monday staged a demonstration in capital Nouakchott to demand the release of jailed former Senator Mohamed Ould Ghaddah.

Ould Ghaddah was arrested in August of 2017 for allegedly bribing members of the Mauritanian Senate, the upper house of Mauritania's bicameral parliament, which was dissolved last year following a controversial constitutional referendum.

Monday’s protest saw the participation of several leaders of Mauritania’s National Forum for Democracy and Unity (FNDU), a coalition of 14 opposition parties.

“Senator Ould Ghaddah’s arrest was illegal,” FNDU member Saleh Ould Hanana told Anadolu Agency.

“The senator must be released immediately,” he added, warning of possible repercussions should Ould Ghaddah remain in detention without trial.

In recent years, Ould Ghaddah had been a leading member of the FNDU and a vocal critic of President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and his policies.

He was also a staunch critic of last year’s referendum, which led to a number of controversial constitutional changes, including the dissolution of the senate.

Despite opposition claims that the referendum was rigged, the senate was dissolved shortly after the poll in a move that drew condemnation from the opposition.

President Ould Abdel Aziz seized power in a 2008 military coup. One year later, he won a presidential election, the integrity of which has been questioned by critics.