Muhamad yehia – Sahar ragab
UAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP (AP) — Clashes in Mauritania between security forces and protesters rallying against the reelection of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani left three people dead, authorities said Tuesday. An unspecified number of people were reported injured.NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — Clashes in Mauritania between security forces and protesters rallying against the re-election of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani have left three people dead, authorities said Tuesday. An unspecified number of people were reported injured.
Following the clashes, mobile internet access was blocked Tuesday as authorities vowed to arrest those behind the violence.In the wake of the clashes, mobile internet service was banned on Tuesday as authorities vowed to arrest those behind the violence.
The protests broke out late Monday in parts of the northwestern African country after Ghazouani was declared winner of the presidential election.Protests erupted late Monday in parts of the northwest African country after Ghazouani was declared the winner of the presidential election.
His main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, a renowned anti-slavery activist, rejected the outcome and claimed the result was falsified.His main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, a well-known anti-slavery activist, rejected the result and claimed the result was fraudulent.
Authorities said security forces in the southern city of Kaedi — the country’s largest and an opposition stronghold with an overwhelming Black majority — confronted the demonstrators, the Ministry of Interior said, and several arrests were made. The ministry did not identify the three people killed in the violence or elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths.Security forces in the southern city of Kaedi — the country’s largest opposition stronghold and overwhelmingly black — confronted the protesters, the Interior Ministry said, and several people were arrested. The ministry did not identify the three people killed in the violence or clarify the circumstances of their deaths.
Demonstrations also broke out in the towns of Nouadhibou, Rosso Zoueirat and Boghe, all also Abeid strongholds.Demonstrations also erupted in the cities of Nouadhibou, Rousseau Zouérat and Boughé, all of which are also strongholds of Obeid.“Kaedi last night saw violent acts of vandalism and sabotage of public and private property, scenes of looting and a general climate of fear which led the security forces to confront it and arrest several demonstrators,” the ministry said in a statement.”Last night, Kaedi witnessed acts of vandalism and vandalism of public and private property, scenes of looting and a general climate of fear that prompted security forces to confront them and arrest many demonstrators,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The prosecutor’s office will open an investigation to determine the circumstances of these events and the death of the demonstrators,” the ministry added.”The Public Prosecutor’s Office will open an investigation to determine the circumstances of these events and the killing of demonstrators,” the ministry added
Ghazouani, who had campaigned on a pledge of providing security and economic growth, won 56% of the votes while Abeid received 22%, the electoral commission said Monday. Abeid promptly called for “peaceful demonstrations and peaceful gatherings.”Ghazouani, who campaigned on his campaign pledge to provide security and economic growth, won 56 percent of the vote while Obeid won 22 percent, the electoral commission said Monday. Abedi immediately called for “peaceful demonstrations and peaceful assemblies”.
The commission — which includes representatives of political parties — dismissed the opposition claims about voting irregularities.The committee, which includes representatives of political parties, rejected opposition allegations of voting irregularities.
hree international election observation missions also said in their preliminary statements Monday that the voting was held in a “peaceful and transparent atmosphere.”Three international election observation missions also said in their initial statements on Monday that the vote was conducted in a “peaceful and transparent atmosphere”.
Ghazouani has been accused by his opponents of corruption and mismanagement, but remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability amid regional tensions, with several neighboring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence.His opponents accuse Ghazouani of corruption and mismanagement, but he remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability amid regional tensions, with many neighboring countries rocked by military coups and jihadist violence.
For centuries, Mauritania’s economic and political elite of Arab and Amazigh people enslaved Black people from the northwestern Sahara.For centuries, the Mauritanian economic and political elite has enslaved Arabs and black Amazighs from the northwest of the Sahara.
Mauritania outlawed slavery in 1981, the last country in the world to do so, but the practice continues, human rights groups say. There are around 149,000 people held in conditions of slavery in this nation of less than 5 million, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index.Mauritania banned slavery in 1981, the last country in the world to do so, but the practice continues, human rights groups say. About 149,000 people are held in slavery conditions in this country of less than 5 million, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index.