Former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz faced the verdict on Monday, receiving a five-year prison sentence for exploiting his power to accumulate wealth. The trial, ongoing since January 2023, implicated Aziz and ten others, including former prime ministers and businessmen, in charges ranging from "illicit enrichment" to "money laundering."
Following days of closed-door deliberation, the court convicted Aziz solely on charges of illicit enrichment and money laundering. Assets gained through these actions were ordered to be confiscated, and Aziz was barred from exercising his civil rights.
Despite the gravity of the sentence, Aziz, 66, stoically accepted the ruling. Notably, he joins the rare ranks of former African heads of state convicted of illicit enrichment while in office.
Aziz's downfall continues under his successor, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, his former ally and partner in the coup that brought him to power in 2008. Ghazouani, now president, was Aziz's Chief of Staff and Minister of Defense.
While Aziz received the harshest penalty, others were acquitted, and some faced suspended sentences. Aziz, detained since January 24, is the only one mandated to remain in prison, a decision criticized by his defense lawyers as a "political trial."
Leading the country until 2019, Aziz oversaw its transition from instability to relative calm.
However, his indictment in March 2021 claimed he had amassed €67 million during his tenure. During the trial, he insisted the charges were part of a political plot to sideline him, a claim that gained momentum when, in a surprising twist, he accused Ghazouani of providing him with millions in cash post-election.
This legal saga marks a dramatic turn for a nation historically susceptible to coups. Aziz's ascent to power and orchestrated transition to Ghazouani's presidency marked a departure from the country's turbulent history, making the recent trial an unexpected climax.
As Aziz plans to appeal the verdict, the intricacies of Mauritanian politics continue to unfold, revealing a story of power, wealth, and political intrigue.