Former Mauritania President Loses Final Corruption Appeal
Former President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, has lost his final appeal against a 15-year prison sentence for corruption while in office.
Abdel Aziz, who led the country for a decade, was first sentenced to five years in 2023 after being found guilty of illegally amassing about 70 million dollars in assets during his time as president. His lawyers argued that the trial was politically motivated, but in May 2025, his first appeal was dismissed, and the court increased his jail term to 15 years.
The former president rose to power in 2008 after leading a military coup that overthrew the then-government. He later won two elections, serving as Mauritania’s leader from 2009 to 2019 before stepping down.
In 2021, Abdel Aziz and 10 other high-profile figures — including two former prime ministers were charged with corruption-related offences such as illicit enrichment, abuse of office, influence-peddling, and money laundering.
The court found that during his presidency, Abdel Aziz used his position to gain wealth and property illegally, undermining public trust in government institutions. Since his conviction, he has been stripped of his assets and civic rights, effectively ending his political career.
Despite his legal team’s claim that the case was politically driven, Mauritanian authorities have maintained that the trial was part of a wider anti-corruption drive aimed at promoting accountability and transparency.
The ruling marks the end of a long legal battle and sends a strong message against corruption at the highest levels of government in Mauritania.
