President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania has been re-elected for a second term after winning the nationwide poll on Saturday.
He won the first round by a considerable margin, receiving 56.1% of the votes.
His primary opponent, anti-slavery campaigner Biram Dah Abeid, earned 22.1% of the vote and is contesting the results, claiming fraud.
On Monday, the country’s independent electoral body validated the results, which showed a 55% turnout of the 2 million eligible voters.
The constitutional court will now study the figures before delivering the final outcome.
Taghioullah Ledhem, a spokeswoman for CENI, the country’s independent election authority, indicated that no detections have been made and no complaints have been filed.
However, several opposition candidates have taken a different stance.
The commission consists of representatives from political parties, with its president appointed by the government, leading to accusations of collusion with Ghazouani’s regime.
Abeid, claiming to be the true victor, denounced the provisional results as an “electoral coup d’état” to benefit Ghazouani.
He accused the electoral commission of fraudulently awarding Ghazouni thousands of votes “out of nowhere.”
Abeid, speaking from his residence in Riadh, urged civil disobedience against the government and appealed to the military and security forces not to be manipulated by the government against the people.
He emphasized that the battle is not over, asserting that the people will continue to resist until the end.
Despite allegations of corruption and mismanagement from his opponents, Ghazouani, a former army chief, remains popular among Mauritanians who view him as a symbol of stability.
The election occurred amidst regional instability, with neighboring countries experiencing military coups and jihadi violence.
Mauritania boasts abundant natural resources such as iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, gold, oil, and natural gas.
The country is set to become a gas producer with the anticipated launch of the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyin offshore gas project on the Senegal border by year-end.
However, nearly 60% of the population lives in poverty, primarily engaged in farming or informal employment.
Due to limited economic prospects for youth domestically, many are seeking opportunities in Europe, and some are even attempting to reach the United States via Mexico.
Ghazouani’s victory solidifies Mauritania’s position as a key ally of the West in a region plagued by instability and violence.
