Mauritanian leader wins new term

NOUAKCHOTT — Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been re-elected with an overwhelming 81.89 per cent of the vote, preliminary results showed, after his main rivals boycotted a process they rejected as a sham.

The former general, who seized power in the northwest African nation in an August 2008 coup, campaigned strongly on his success in fighting armed groups linked to Al Qaeda at home and in neighbouring Sahel nations.

Preliminary results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday indicated that Abdel Aziz was firmly ahead of anti-slavery candidate Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, who obtained just 8.67 per cent of Saturday’s ballot.

In third place was Ibrahima Moctar Sarr, with 4.44 per cent while the only female candidate in the race, Lalla Mariem Mint Moulaye Idriss took only 0.49 per cent.

One 70-year-old voter who gave his name as Brahim said the country, wracked by jihadist violence up until 2010, “had found peace”.

“That’s important and I want it to continue because peace is irreplaceable.”

Kidnappings and attacks by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) were frequent when Abdel Aziz came to power, but he boasts that he has turned his nation into a regional haven of peace thanks to his reorganisation of the military and security forces.

The mainly Muslim republic, sandwiched between the west coast of Africa and the Sahara desert, is seen by Western leaders as a bulwark against Al Qaeda-linked groups.

In 2010 and 2011, Mauritanian troops carried out successful “preventative” raids on AQIM bases in neighbouring Mali, before the armed fundamentalists could carry out planned attacks on Mauritania.

Allegations of fraud

Opposition critics argue that the price of peace has been authoritarian rule and boycotted a vote they dismissed as a sham.

Main opposition parties have never accepted Abdel Aziz’s 2009 victory in an election they said was marred by massive fraud.

The National Forum for Democracy and Unity — an opposition coalition of 11 parties including a moderate Islamist-movement — rallied to denounce Abdel Aziz’s “dictatorial power” and were counting on a high abstention rate.

On Sunday, the electoral commission said turnout reached 56.46 per cent, below that of the 2009 elections when participation stood at 64 per cent.

African Union observers were satisfied with the vote.

“Overall, this election took place peacefully and in a spirit of political tolerance... I welcome the civic sense among the Mauritanians,” said the head of the AU mission, Beji Caid Essebsi, who is also Tunisia’s former prime minister.