Mauritania: former president Aziz under threat of indictment for corruption
Former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
LINTAO ZHANG / POOL / AFP
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In Mauritania, the Nouakchott prosecutor on Thursday March 11 requested the indictment of former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz for corruption.
In addition to the ex-president, one of his sons-in-law, two former prime ministers, and several former ministers and businessmen are concerned by this request from the prosecutor, which even requires placement under "extensive" judicial supervision, according to a press release sent to Agence France Presse. All were to be presented to a judge on Thursday, it will be up to him to follow up this request or not.
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"
Corruption, money laundering, illicit enrichment, squandering of public property, obstruction of the course of justice
", and this is only an extract from the list of charges drawn up, according to a source close to the prosecutor's office quoted anonymously by AFP.
A little over a year ago, a parliamentary commission of inquiry was formed around suspicions of corruption and embezzlement of public funds during the years of power of the former president: management of oil revenues, sale of state domains, or even the activities of a Chinese fishing company.
The report of this commission was sent to justice last August.
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, questioned for a week by the police, then decided to
remain silent
, but he came out without his passport and with the ban on leaving Nouakchott.
Since then, companies, buildings, sums of money have been frozen or seized, for nearly a billion euros, "
in Mauritania alone
", according to the prosecution.
"
Settlement of accounts ...
"
At the beginning of March, the former president and many personalities were again summoned by the police.
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who wields his immunity as a former president, has once again chosen to remain silent.
He and his lawyers cry "
settling of scores
" and denounce an attempt to sully his honor.
Former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ruled Mauritania from 2008 to 2019. But since the election of his successor, Mohamed Ould Cheickh el Ghazouani, a 40-year-old friend, the sky has continued to darken over- above his head and that of his relatives, family or former collaborators.
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To read also:
Exclusive interview with the former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
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Mauritania
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Justice