Mauritania court upholds 15-year jail term for ex-President Aziz

Mauritania’s Supreme Court has upheld a 15-year prison sentence handed to former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz after finding him guilty of corruption, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office. The ruling marks the final stage in a high-profile case that has gripped the nation since the former leader was first indicted in 2021.

Abdel Aziz, who ruled from 2009 to 2019 after seizing power in a 2008 coup, was accused of embezzling public funds, awarding inflated contracts to associates, and amassing unexplained wealth estimated at tens of millions of dollars during his decade in power.

The decision comes amid a growing global trend of holding former leaders accountable for corruption and abuse of office. In South Africa, former President Jacob Zuma continues to face corruption charges related to state capture, while in France, ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced for illegal campaign financing. Similarly, in Malaysia, former Prime Minister Najib Razak is serving a 12-year sentence for his role in the 1MDB scandal.

For Mauritania, the verdict is being seen as a turning point in the country’s fight against impunity. The court also ordered the confiscation of assets linked to Abdel Aziz and some of his close associates.

Once regarded as a powerful figure in West Africa and a key ally in regional security efforts, Abdel Aziz’s fall from grace underscores a growing resolve across nations to ensure that political power does not shield public officials from justice.