Mauritania Supreme Court Upholds Former President's Conviction
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritania’s former president, has exhausted his appeals against a 15-year prison sentence for corruption during his time in office.
Background and Presidency
After seizing power in a 2008 coup, Abdel Aziz was elected president twice and ruled from 2009 until he stepped down in 2019.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
In 2021, Abdel Aziz, along with 10 other high-profile individuals including two former prime ministers, faced charges of illicit enrichment, abuse of functions, influence-peddling, and money laundering.
Initially sentenced to five years in prison in 2023 for illegally amassing assets and capital valued at $70 million, Abdel Aziz appealed the decision. His legal team claimed the trial was politically motivated.
However, the first appeal was denied in May 2025, and the court extended his sentence by an additional 10 years.
Consequences of Conviction
- Final appeal rejected by the Supreme Court.
- Conviction confirmed for corruption-related charges.
- Loss of assets and civic rights following the verdict.
Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, lost his final appeal of a 15-year prison sentence for corruption while in office.
Since his conviction, Abdel Aziz has been stripped of his assets and his civic rights.
Author's summary: Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritania's ex-president, has been definitively sentenced to 15 years for corruption, losing his final appeal and losing all assets and civic rights.