Mauritania’s former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz sentenced to 15 Years for corruption

A Mauritanian appeals court on Wednesday sentenced former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to 15 years in prison and imposed a $3 million fine, escalating a previous five-year sentence handed down in 2023 for corruption charges.

Aziz, a former military general who rose to power through two coups before serving as president from 2009 to 2019, was found guilty of money laundering and illicit self-enrichment. Investigators say he amassed over $70 million in assets during his decade in office. He has remained in custody since his initial conviction last year.

The trial has drawn international attention as a rare example of an African head of state being held accountable for corruption while in office. Aziz’s legal team has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, alleging they stem from a falling-out with his successor, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.

Once close allies, Aziz and Ghazouani experienced a sharp rift after Mauritania's first peaceful democratic transition of power in 2019. Tensions escalated when Aziz attempted to reclaim influence within the ruling party. In 2020, a parliamentary commission launched a sweeping investigation into alleged corruption during his administration, eventually implicating 11 others.

Wednesday’s ruling cleared six high-ranking officials from Aziz’s former government but upheld a two-year prison sentence for his son-in-law on charges of influence peddling. The court also ordered the dissolution of the “Errahma” (Mercy) Foundation, run by Aziz’s son, and authorized the seizure of its assets.

Mauritania, despite its vast natural wealth, including iron ore, gold, copper, oil, and natural gas, continues to face high levels of poverty. According to the United Nations, nearly 60% of the population lives below the poverty line, often working in informal jobs or agriculture. Economic hardship has driven many young Mauritanians to seek opportunities abroad, with increasing numbers attempting to migrate to Europe and the United States via irregular routes.

Aziz's sentencing could mark a pivotal moment in Mauritania’s political and judicial history, signaling a potentially stronger stance against corruption among high-level officials. However, the case remains politically sensitive in a country where institutions are still consolidating democratic norms.