The 48-hour window for filing appeals against the results of Saturday’s presidential election expired on the evening of Wednesday, July 3rd. The Constitutional Council is now tasked with validating the official provisional results.
Candidates in Mauritania have a 48-hour period to submit written or even telephonic appeals to the Constitutional Council following the conclusion of voting operations. This period, which began after the close of polls on Saturday, has now lapsed without any candidate filing an appeal.
Notably, Biram Dah Abeid, the human rights advocate who finished second, did not appeal. Although he disputes the results announced by the Electoral Commission and alleges fraud, he has proposed a dialogue with the authorities.
From the Islamist party Tawassoul, another major opposition group, Hamadi Ould Sid’El Moctar, who finished third, congratulated Mohamed Ould Ghazouani on his re-election over the phone. In a statement, Tawassoul pointed to systemic irregularities in the electoral process, such as the ruling party’s use of “state influence.”
However, the party confirmed that the results compiled by their representatives “largely correspond” to those published by the Electoral Commission. Consequently, Tawassoul urged all political forces in the country to prioritize the national interest.
Outouma Soumaré, who finished sixth, adopted a similar stance, accepting the provisional results published by the Electoral Commission, as did two other candidates. With no appeals filed, the responsibility now lies with the Constitutional Council to validate the provisional results. The Council has eight days to complete this process.
This development marks a significant step towards confirming the election outcome, amidst calls from various political factions for unity and the prioritization of the country’s higher interests.