After the counting of all the votes cast, the CENI declared Mohamed Ould Ghazouani the winner of the presidential election held on June 29. The outgoing president, who was seeking a second term, received 56.12% of the votes.
Biram Dah Abeid, his main opponent, came in second with 22.10% of the vote. At a press conference, Abeid announced that he would not recognize the results proclaimed by “the Ceni de Ghazouani“, which he accuses of being under the influence of the power in place. He affirmed that his movement of refusal would be peaceful and called on the army as well as the forces of law and order not to obey the orders of the regime.
Abeid’s supporters demonstrated in some neighborhoods of Nouakchott, burning tires and trash cans, disrupting traffic, according to AFP. In response, security forces surrounded the opponent’s campaign headquarters and arrested his campaign manager, intensifying the police presence in the capital.
Interior Minister Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine said the situation was under control and citizens could continue their activities in peace. He also reaffirmed that the government would not tolerate any disturbance to public order.
The Islamist candidate from Tawassoul, Hamadi Ould Sidi El Mokhtar, who came third with 12.76% of the vote, called on his supporters to remain calm and avoid any disruptive behavior. The CENI, which has until Monday evening to announce the official provisional results, has been criticized by the opposition for its lack of independence.
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani insisted that only the CENI was authorized to publish the results and urged patience while waiting for the official proclamation of the results by the Constitutional Council. Meanwhile, international observers reported no major incidents during the poll, although the opposition continued to denounce the arrangements put in place by the government to monitor the election.
