Mauritania prosecutors seek 20-year sentence for former president Aziz

Mauritanian prosecutors have requested an appeals court to increase former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz’s prison sentence from five to 20 years for embezzlement and abuse of office, according to AFP. Convicted in 2023, Aziz allegedly amassed $70 million through illicit means while in power from 2008 to 2019. 

Prosecutors accused him of turning the presidency into a tool for extorting investors and called for the dissolution of Rahma, a charity linked to his family. Aziz, in custody since his trial began in early 2023, denies all charges. His lawyers are set to present their defense Tuesday.

The case has strained Mauritania’s political landscape, though current President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, once Aziz’s close ally, denies involvement in the prosecution. The verdict could further shape the country’s governance and anti-corruption efforts amid ongoing economic and political challenges.