Mauritania opposition concerned over integrity of polls

NOUAKCHOTT (AA) - A Mauritanian opposition leader on Wednesday warned that recent administrative appointments by the government could affect the integrity of upcoming parliamentary and municipal polls.

Speaking on Facebook, Al-Hassan Ould Mohamed called on the government to suspend all appointments to government posts until after elections are held on Sept. 1.

A recent spate of government appointments, he said, were aimed at “influencing voters and their political choices”.

The government, he went on to assert, tended to make administrative appointments in the run-up to polls with a view to “encouraging the public to vote in its favor”.

“Buying voters’ allegiance by providing jobs in the public sector is extremely dangerous,” Ould Mohamed said, calling on Mauritanian opposition parties to uniformly condemn the practice.

Anadolu Agency was unable to obtain immediate comment from Nouakchott regarding the opposition leader’s assertions.