Mauritania's main opposition coalition has firmly rejected recent calls to allow President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani a third term, warning that any attempt to alter constitutional term limits threatens the country's political stability and peaceful transfer of power.
Mauritania's principal opposition coalition has publicly rejected mounting calls for President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to seek a third term, warning that any move to amend or bypass constitutional term limits would endanger the country's political stability and the peaceful transfer of power.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the coalition criticised recent appeals from ministers, elected officials, and senior civil servants advocating for a third term, arguing that such efforts contradict the duty of public officeholders to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.
Opposition Warns of Political and Institutional Risks
The coalition emphasised that the constitutional provisions limiting presidential terms are inviolable, and any attempt to modify or circumvent them would violate both the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It cautioned that undermining these restrictions could trigger political crises, deepen divisions, and erode public trust in state institutions, ultimately threatening national stability.
The statement assigned political and national responsibility to those promoting a third term, urging them to withdraw their calls and warning that they would be accountable for any resulting tensions or unrest.
Debate Intensifies Amid Socio-Economic Challenges
The coalition argued that Mauritania "belongs to no one" and that political power is a temporary responsibility exercised within the framework of the Constitution and the law. It rejected claims that a third term would enhance stability, instead warning that raising the issue now risks distracting public attention from pressing economic and social problems, including rising prices, declining purchasing power, unemployment, and poor public services.
Reaffirming its commitment to the Constitution and the principle of democratic, peaceful power transfer, the coalition called on all political, national, and social forces to oppose any attempt to undermine these principles.
Constitutional Limits Under Scrutiny
The opposition's statement comes as political debate intensifies over whether President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani should be permitted to run for a third term, despite the Constitution's clear two-term limit. The coalition stressed that safeguarding the Constitution is the responsibility of all Mauritanians, especially state officials, and that true stability depends on respecting institutions and the rules governing power transitions-not on extending leaders' mandates.
Source: saharamedias.net (link)
