The current President, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who has been at the helm since 2019, officially announced his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for June 29th, 2024. This announcement came in a public letter released on Wednesday evening, April 24th.
Ghazouani’s decision did not come as a surprise in Nouakchott; as the outgoing president and current Chairperson of the African Union, he stands as the frontrunner for the upcoming election. His party secured 107 out of 176 seats in the Parliament in the last legislative elections.
“I respond to the call of duty and the desire to continue serving you and our beloved country,” declared the incumbent president in his open letter to Mauritanians. In it, Mohamed Ould Cheik Ghazouani pledged to strengthen national unity, improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable, ensure the country’s security and stability, and combat corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
Addressing the aspirations of the youth is also highlighted as one of the incumbent president’s greatest challenges. Despite his five-year tenure, the streets of Nouakchott reflect lingering expectations among Mauritanians. “Let him give young people the chance to demonstrate their skills and enable them to finance their projects, especially!” expressed one individual. Another added, “We are young, we are here, we learn, we do everything, but there is no assurance.”
“I am waiting for changes in social aspects, security at the Mali border, social cohesion; I miss that here,” echoed another sentiment. And regarding utilities, “As for water, as for electricity, he has done nothing!”
In his letter, the president also highlighted the accomplishments during his tenure, including the establishment of a national solidarity fund and a program for the most vulnerable, the implementation of a security strategy, and the initiation of participatory dialogues among political parties.
Presently, around ten candidates have announced their intentions to run. Among them is opposition figure and Member of Parliament Biram Dah Abeid, who came second in the 2019 presidential election. The Constitutional Council will officially release the list of approved candidates by the end of May 2024.