25 parties are competing in the legislative elections. The party of the presidential majority, “Insaf”, appears to be in a good position to lead the results, knowing that it is the only one that presents candidates in all constituencies, especially in rural areas.
Mauritanians cast their votes on Saturday to choose 176 deputies and members of 15 local councils and 238 municipal councils in a three-way ballot that constitutes a test for President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani, one year before the presidential elections.
About 1.8 million voters were invited to vote in the first elections to be held under Ghazouani, who took over the presidency of this vast West African country in 2019 and is considered one of the few stable countries in the Sahel region rocked by attacks by jihadist groups.
It is assumed that a second session will be held on May 27 for half of the 176 seats in the Council, given the existence of two electoral systems according to the types of constituencies.
25 parties are competing in the legislative elections. The party of the presidential majority, “Insaf”, appears to be in a good position to lead the results, knowing that it is the only one that presents candidates in all constituencies, especially in rural areas.
Adam Hillili, an analyst at the American advisory group specializing in Africa, 14 North Strategies, said that the Justice Party “will achieve a majority in all elections, and President Ghazouani will enhance his chances of re-election in 2024.”
Al-Ghazwani, who is 66 years old and considered one of the biggest architects of Mauritania’s success in confronting the jihadist movement since 2011 when he was commander of the army, was keen to refrain from talking about the possibility of running for a second term, but that seems certain in Mauritania.
In the face of “equity”, the “Islamic Communication” party will seek to consolidate its position at the head of the opposition in the National Assembly, as it is competing for this leadership with the “Al-Sawab” party with Arab nationalist leanings, which benefits from its alliance with the anti-slavery activist Biram Ould Dah Ould Obeidi, who came second. in the last presidential elections.
As for the other parties, they are absent from a large part of the electorate, and cannot pose a threat to the ruling party, which had a comfortable majority in the outgoing parliament. Mauritanian presidents have always relied on a strong majority in the assembly since the introduction of the multi-party system in 1991.
“duty”
Abdelkader Berrar, head of the third polling station in Nouakchott Olympic Stadium in the center of the capital when polling stations opened in the morning, said that “everything is ready and the ballot boxes are sealed,” and he ordered entry to “the first voters.”
The ballot papers, voter lists and the ink used for fingerprinting were placed in front of him in the presence of two of his assistants. Outside, small queues of voters are forming, an AFP journalist reported.
“The sense of duty is what prompted me to come,” Mohamed Ould Cheikh, 30, who works in mining, told AFP. “It is our duty to contribute to the development of democracy, as development and peace are linked to it.”
As for the 18-year-old Akhdar student, Amin, who is casting his vote for the first time, he affirmed that he “fulfills the duty to help open new opportunities for young people.”
Among the new things in this ballot is the existence of a list for selecting young candidates under the age of 35, who will be allocated 11 seats in the National Assembly for the winners.
In Nouakchott, during the electoral campaign that began on April 27, large tents were erected, which were packed in the evenings for activist speeches, concerts and traditional dances.
“The president’s party, his social policy and his economic project for Mauritania are a source of pride for us, and therefore we support him,” economist Mohamed Ould Shanan, 60, told AFP.
economic concern
The atmosphere is different in the popular neighborhood of Dar al-Naim, which believes in the opportunities of the opposition.
“I support Pyram, the hero of the struggle for the liberation of blacks,” said teacher Amadou Mamadou, 35, stressing that “his speech, his energy and his commitment are things that suit me.”
Biram Ould Dah Ould Obeidi is a historical dissident who campaigns for the descendants of the slaves, a community he belongs to in a country characterized by a diverse population of Moors, descendants of slaves, and groups from sub-Saharan Africa.
In the south of Nouakchott, the stronghold of the Islamists of the Communication Party, there are hopes for victory and the strict application of Islamic law. “This will lead to wealth and restore hope to the country,” said trader Ibrahim Ould Al-Salik, 28, who is 28 years old.
The campaign took place in a peaceful atmosphere. A dialogue between the opposition and the government at the beginning of this year led to a consensus on organizing elections.
“These are the first elections to be held in an atmosphere of general consensus among all political forces in the country,” the Mauritanian president said in a message on the eve of the launch of the campaign, praising his record of four years in power.
After the economic slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic and then the war in Ukraine, Al-Ghazwani made combating poverty among his priorities. He implemented an ambitious social program that included the distribution of food and cash to the poorest.
Economic prospects are good, but the country is witnessing an inflation rate of 9.5 percent in 2022, according to the World Bank. Therefore, the high cost of living is one of the main concerns of voters.
The official results of the official elections will be announced 48 hours after the end of the voting.
