Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, has lost his final appeal against a 15-year prison sentence handed down for corruption during his decade-long rule.
Abdel Aziz was first convicted in 2023 and sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of illicitly amassing assets worth about $70 million while in office. His lawyers denounced the proceedings as politically motivated, but a first appeal in May 2025 not only upheld the conviction — it extended his sentence to 15 years.
The former leader, who came to power in a 2008 military coup, governed Mauritania from 2009 to 2019 before stepping down at the end of his second term. His presidency was initially hailed for bringing relative stability to the country, but later marred by allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
Abdel Aziz was charged in 2021 with illicit enrichment, abuse of functions, influence-peddling, and money laundering, alongside 10 other senior officials, including two former prime ministers.
Following his conviction, he has been stripped of his assets and civic rights, marking a decisive fall from grace for a leader once seen as a key player in Mauritania’s political and security landscape.
Melissa Enoch
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