The opposition party " La Mauritanie en avant " has halted its participation in national dialogue preparations, demanding the release of executive member Lebatt Ould Mayouf, whose arrest remains unexplained by authorities.
The Mauritanian opposition party " La Mauritanie en avant " has announced it will suspend all involvement in the preparatory activities for the national dialogue until its detained leaders are released or authorities present clear evidence of wrongdoing. Party president Nourredine Mohamedou stated that the party cannot engage in dialogue with the government while its members are held without substantiated charges.
Speaking on " Sahara 24 " on Thursday, Nourredine Mohamedou revealed that executive member Lebatt Ould Mayouf was taken from his home on the day of the Prophet's birthday and is currently being held at the cybercrime office under the National Gendarmerie. The party has not been informed of the reasons for his arrest, and authorities have not provided any official justification.
Party Demands Immediate Release and Denies Allegations
Nourredine Mohamedou called on President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to order the immediate release of Lebatt Ould Mayouf, asserting that the detained leader had committed no crime and was exercising his constitutional right to free expression. Addressing reports of an audio recording circulating on social media and attributed to Ould Mayouf, Mohamedou insisted the recording was fabricated and that the voice was not that of the party official, describing it as a manipulated audio file paired with his image.
Political Tensions and Broader Context
The arrest of a prominent opposition figure during a period of national dialogue preparations has heightened political tensions in Mauritania. The lack of transparency around the detention has drawn criticism from civil society and opposition groups, who argue that such actions undermine trust in the dialogue process. The authorities have reportedly summoned Ould Mayouf to appear before the public prosecutor, but no further details have been disclosed.
This development comes amid ongoing debates over political freedoms and government accountability in Mauritania. In a related context, the Mauritanian government recently addressed concerns over transparency in public sector processes, as seen when the Ministry of Health reaffirmed merit-based criteria for doctor transfers following union protests (see coverage of government response to union demands).
What to Watch Next
Observers are closely monitoring whether the authorities will clarify the grounds for Ould Mayouf's detention or move to release him, as well as the potential impact on the credibility and inclusiveness of the national dialogue process. The response from the presidency and security services will likely shape the next phase of political engagement in Mauritania.
