Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, appeared in court on Wednesday to begin his appeal against a five-year prison sentence for charges related to corruption and abuse of power. The appeal follows his December 2023 conviction, where Aziz, who led the country from 2008 to 2019, was found guilty of embezzling state funds and misusing his authority.
Aziz, held in custody since the trial began in January 2023, arrived in court appearing healthy but under high security. His legal team filed the appeal soon after his conviction, asserting that the charges were politically motivated. “We stand firmly against these accusations and will fight to overturn this verdict,” his lawyers stated.
The case implicates not only Aziz but also several former high-ranking officials, including two ex-prime ministers, on charges of illicit enrichment, abuse of office, and money laundering. Court documents reveal that investigators allege Aziz accumulated assets worth approximately $70 million during his tenure, raising serious concerns over corruption within the government. 
The courtroom proceedings were closed to the public, with heavy security forces stationed around the courthouse to prevent supporters from entering. Despite the barriers, loyal supporters of Aziz gathered nearby, voicing their belief in his innocence.
Aziz, now 66, was barred from participating in the June 2024 presidential election, an election won by his former ally and current president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. The political shift highlights ongoing tensions in Mauritania, a nation of 4.5 million positioned between North and Sub-Saharan Africa, which witnessed multiple coups from 1978 to 2008. Aziz’s rule and subsequent appeal come amid efforts to transition the country toward stability, marked by its first democratic transfer of power in 2019.
As Aziz’s appeal proceeds, Mauritanians and observers wonder: Can the nation sustain a democratic shift in governance, or will old power dynamics prevail?
