Elections in Mauritania: the country still waiting for the results by the CENI

Mauritanian voters are suspended when the results are announced. Here, a queue outside a polling station in Nouakchott, May 13, 2023. AFP - MED LEMINE RAJEL

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On Saturday, May 13, 1.8 million voters were called to choose their deputies, mayors and regional councillors. All eyes are on the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), which has been announcing the results in dribs and drabs, since Sunday, May 14.

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With special envoy to Nouakchott,Sidy Yansané

The triple poll is crucial for President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el-Ghazouani's ruling El Insaf party, which is facing the ballot box for the first time since his election in 2019. El Insaf's main competitor is the Islamist party Tawassoul, which wants to confirm its status as the leading opposition force. Anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, who came second in the presidential election, has joined the Sawab party, which hopes to benefit from its popularity.

After the multiple dysfunctions observed during Saturday's election, and denounced by many parties, including the ruling party, the CENI knows it is expected on the announcement of the results. Since yesterday morning, its members have been taking turns on television, and list live the scores moughataa by moughataa, the name given to Mauritanian constituencies.

A desire for transparency

Its spokesman, Mohamed Taghioullah Led'hem, appears regularly to indicate the level of change in counting throughout the country. And sends populations to the myceni.com site, which compiles the results in real time. All this for the purpose of transparency, says the spokesman, who issued a statement in the evening, recalling the importance of waiting for the end of the count, in accordance with the law; Even if candidates still claimed victory in some municipalities, sometimes causing horns and whistles in the streets during the evening.

The CENI wants to show that it is active to carry out its mission, especially since the political leaders, as well as the head of state Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, all welcomed the serenity of the election.

► Read also: Mauritania: a triple test election for power one year before the presidential election

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• Mauritania
• Mohamed Ould Ghazouani