Mauritanian top court upholds decision to keep former president in jail

By Mohammad al-Bakkay

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AA) - The Mauritanian Supreme Court upheld a decision on Tuesday by an investigating judge to imprison former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and continue a probe focused on financial corruption during his tenure, according to media reports.

Reports said the court refused a request by Ould Abdel Aziz's defense to reverse a decision that would allow him to travel and access his frozen assets.

Judicial authorities referred Ould Abdel Aziz to jail on July 23 on corruption charges in government deals.

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

Officials froze Ould Abdel Aziz's assets and those of former aides on April 4 and placed the former president under house arrest.

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

He supported current President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in the June 2019 elections. Ould Ghazouani took part in the 2008 military coup.

Observers see the trial of Ould Abdel Aziz as a conflict between the former president and Ghazouani regarding interference by Ould Abdel Aziz in the ruling.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara