Former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption, following a ruling by a Nouakchott appeals court on Wednesday.
The decision comes after both the state and Aziz’s defence contested a previous five-year sentence handed down in December 2023.
Abdel Aziz, who came to power in a 2008 coup and later won elections in 2009 and 2014, ruled Mauritania for over a decade. During his tenure, he was regarded as a key regional ally to Western powers combating Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel. However, his post-presidency years have been overshadowed by a sweeping corruption investigation.
The former leader was found guilty of illicit enrichment, abuse of power, and money laundering. Though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing, the appeals court significantly increased his sentence in response to the state’s appeal for a harsher penalty. Abdel Aziz’s legal team also appealed, arguing that only a high court of justice had the authority to try a former head of state.
“It is a decision that reflects the pressure the executive branch exerts on the judiciary,” said defence lawyer Mohameden Ichidou, confirming that they would take the matter to the Supreme Court.
In contrast, Brahim Ebety, representing the Mauritanian state, praised the court’s ruling: “All the evidence has established that the former president, who single-handedly ruled the entire country, is the perpetrator of illicit enrichment, abuse of power, and money laundering.”
Abdel Aziz stepped down in 2019, paving the way for a peaceful transfer of power to Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, a former ally who later distanced himself and oversaw the parliamentary move to prosecute the ex-leader.
The verdict marks a significant chapter in Mauritania’s evolving political landscape and stands as a rare instance of accountability for a former head of state in the region.