Provisional results: Ghazouani wins second term as president of Mauritania sparking accusations of electoral fraud

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has secured a second five-year term following a vote count over the weekend. 

 The Western-leaning leader, who has prioritized security and the economy, won 56.1% of the vote, according to the country’s independent electoral commission. 

Mauritania, which is rich in natural resources and is on track to become a gas producer by the end of the year, has high levels of poverty.  Many Mauritanians have left to seek economic opportunities abroad. 

Ghazouani has been accused of corruption by his opponents but the former army general remains popular for maintaining relative stability in a region plagued by military coups and terrorism.

Ghazouani’s main opponent, Biram Dah Abeid, an anti-slavery activist who received 22.1% of the vote told the AFP the election was rigged.

"We'll not accept these results from the so-called independent electoral commission. We'll use our own electoral commission to proclaim the results," he reportedly told journalists.  

According to the AP, on Sunday Biram Dah called on supporters, the military and security forces to protest the election results overseen by the electoral commission, which has been accused of colluding with Ghazouani. 

The African Union, which is currently chaired by Ghazouani, monitored the elections on Saturday. It has yet to release its report. 

Mauritania’s constitutional court is expected to review the results before officially announcing a winner.