Faith Nyasuguta
Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in a landmark corruption case that has shocked the nation and drawn global attention.
The ruling, delivered by an appeals court on Wednesday, more than doubles the five-year sentence handed down to Aziz in 2023. Along with the jail term, the court slapped a $3 million fine on the ex-leader, who was found guilty of money laundering and illegal self-enrichment after accumulating over $70 million in unexplained wealth during his presidency.
Aziz, a former army general, seized power through two coups before ruling the West African country from 2009 to 2019. Investigations revealed a massive fortune amassed under his watch, despite Mauritania’s chronic poverty and struggling economy. He has been in detention since his original conviction last year.
The case has become one of Africa’s most high-profile efforts to prosecute a former head of state for corruption. Aziz’s defense team insists the charges are politically driven, arguing that they stem from his deteriorated relationship with current President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, once his close ally and handpicked successor.
The rift between the two leaders deepened after Mauritania’s historic peaceful transfer of power in 2019. Aziz’s attempt to regain influence in the ruling party sparked a 2020 parliamentary probe, which unearthed widespread graft. The investigation implicated 11 associates from his administration.
In Wednesday’s verdict, six senior officials were cleared of wrongdoing. However, Aziz’s son-in-law received a two-year sentence for influence peddling. The court also ordered the closure and asset seizure of the Errahma Foundation, a charitable organization led by Aziz’s son.
Mauritania’s struggle with corruption stands in stark contrast to its rich reserves of gold, iron ore, copper, and offshore oil and gas. Despite its natural wealth, nearly 60% of its citizens live in poverty, relying on informal work and agriculture. Economic despair has pushed thousands of young Mauritanians to risk perilous migration journeys toward Europe and the United States.
Aziz’s sentencing is being hailed as a critical step in holding the powerful accountable in a region where impunity is common. Still, with deep political undercurrents at play, the case highlights the fragile balance between justice and politics in a young democracy striving to uphold the rule of law.
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