Mauritania's largest opposition bloc chooses new leader

By Mohamed al-Bakay

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AA) - Mauritania's National Forum for Democracy and Unity (NFDU), the country’s largest opposition coalition, has chosen a new leader, the NFDU announced Wednesday.

According to an NFDU statement, Mohamed Ould Mouloud was selected to head up the coalition at a Tuesday meeting of coalition members.

Ould Mouloud also serves as leader of Mauritania’s Union of the Forces of Progress, a left-leaning political party.

Al-Samouri Ould Bi, a syndicate leader, meanwhile, was selected as Ould Mouloud's deputy, according to the statement.

The NFDU is comprised of 14 opposition parties, along with several professional syndicates and independent political figures.

In a sternly-worded statement issued earlier this week, the NFDU accused the government of unilaterally adopting legislation related to elections and the bodies tasked with supervising them.

Mauritania is expected to hold municipal and parliamentary polls sometime later this year, while presidential elections are slated for mid-2019.