Mauritania: Former president Mohamed ould Abdel Aziz refuses to appear before parliamentary investigation commission

Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Former President Mohamed ould Abdel Aziz (2008/2019) Tuesday refused to appear before a parliamentary investigation commission (PIC) to respond to several issues relating to his administration over the past decade.

He has thus refused to answer the summons served on him, expressing his determination not to appear before Members of Parliament, observers said here Tuesday.

After hearing several members of his government and business people considered as close allies, “Mohamed ould Abdel Aziz was several times cited directly for facts and acts likely to breach the constitution”, reliable sources said.

The former Mauritanian leader took office after a military putsch on 6 August 2008. He was elected for the first time as president in 2009 then re-elected in 2014. 

Constrained by constitutional limitation, he handed over power to his former companion and friend of 40 years standing, Mohamed Cheikh El  Ghazouani, elected on 22 June 2019 and inaugurated on 1 August 2019.

Abdel Aziz must respond to several issues related to the award of public contracts for energy, fishing, management and liquidation of several public companies, concessions of public services (ports) and land affairs in Nouakchott.

-0-     PANA   SAS/BEH/MSA/RA  7Jul2020