Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of Mauritania since 2019, has been re-elected, according to the provisional results announced on July 1st, 2024, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni). The announcement follows the first round of the presidential election held two days prior.
According to Céni’s figures, with 56.12% of the vote, the incumbent president leads significantly ahead of his main opponent, Biram Dah Abeid, who garnered 22.10% of the votes.
In Mauritania, the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) has confirmed the provisional results, which were already available on its official website. Seven candidates were in the race. The Céni’s proclamation confirms the victory of the incumbent president, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who secured slightly more than 56% of the votes with a turnout of 55.39%.
The Céni’s announcement marks Mohamed Ould Ghazouani’s re-election for a second term as the head of state.
Achieving a majority outright in the first round, the incumbent president secured over 56% of the votes based on the provisional results after all ballots were counted.
Opposition leader Biram Dah Abeid, who finished second as he did in the previous presidential election, secured just over 22% of the votes this time, compared to 19% in 2019. He announced at a press conference the day before that he would not recognize the Céni’s results, accusing the commission of being manipulated by the ruling power and alleging electoral fraud.
The Islamist candidate from Tawassoul, the leading opposition party in the National Assembly, Hamadi Ould Sidi El Mokhtar, finished third with slightly less than 13% of the votes (12.78%).
The remaining candidates each received less than 4% of the vote: lawyer El Id Mohameden came in fourth with 3.57%, followed by AJDMR candidate Mamadou Bocar Ba and Professor Outouma Soumaré, both receiving just over 2%. Finally, former presidential candidate Mohamed Lemine El Wavi obtained less than 1% of the votes (0.98%).
These provisional results must still be submitted to the Constitutional Council for validation after the examination of any potential appeals.