Mauritania’s incumbent President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani has comfortably won re-election, receiving 56.12 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidential poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said Monday. Ghazouani’s main challenger, anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, came far behind with 22.10 percent of votes, according to results announced by CENI chief Dah Ould Abdel Jelil. Abeid said Sunday he would not recognize the results of CENI, which he accused of being manipulated by the government. Ghazouani’s other main rival, Hamadi Ould Sid’ El Moctar, who heads the Islamist Tewassoul party, came third with 12.78 percent, according to CENI. I congratulate everyone,” said the head of the electoral commission.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 01, 2024 17:18 UTC