A Mauritanian appeals court has sentenced former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to 15 years in prison and imposed a $3 million fine for corruption, significantly increasing the five-year sentence issued in 2023.
Aziz, who ruled from 2009 to 2019 after seizing power through two military coups, was convicted of money laundering and illicit enrichment. Prosecutors estimate he amassed over $70 million during his decade in office. He has been in custody since his initial conviction.
The high-profile case began in 2020 when parliament launched an investigation into alleged corruption during Aziz’s presidency, implicating 11 individuals. While the court upheld a two-year sentence for Aziz’s son-in-law, it acquitted six former senior officials and ordered the dissolution of the Errahma Foundation, run by Aziz’s son.
Aziz’s lawyers argue the charges are politically motivated, citing a rift with his successor, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, after a peaceful power transfer in 2019. The verdict is seen as a rare instance of accountability for a former African head of state and a potential shift toward stronger anti-corruption measures in Mauritania. Despite rich natural resources—iron ore, gold, oil, and gas—nearly 60% of Mauritanians live in poverty, driving youth migration abroad in search of better opportunities.
