Mauritanian police disperse student rally in Nouakchott

By Mohamed al-Bakay

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AA) - Police on Wednesday forcibly dispersed a student demonstration in capital Nouakchott held to demand better conditions for students and criticizing the government’s alleged failure to disperse funds for scholarships.

Police used teargas to break up the protest, which was organized by a prominent student union outside the University of Nouakchott and the offices of Mauritania’s Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry.

According to Habib Ould Akah, head of the National Union of Mauritanian Students, several students were lightly injured in the dispersal.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ould Akah insisted the demonstration had not violated any laws.

"Today’s demonstration was intended to protest poor conditions faced by Mauritanian students and demand the improvement of university services," he said.

Protesters had also demanded that the government disperse scholarship funds for Mauritanian students studying overseas, Ould Akah said, going on to warn that "ignoring students’ demands will have negative repercussions”.

He also warned the Higher Education Ministry against "misleading public opinion and evading its responsibilities by hiding behind security solutions in the face of students’ demands".

It was not possible to obtain immediate comment from the ministry regarding students’ demands or Ould Akah’s assertions.