Mauritania: Former President Ould Abdel Aziz Faces Justice for Illicit Enrichment

Former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is in turmoil. Accused of illicit enrichment and embezzlement, he faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The Mauritanian authorities seem determined to bring down this political colossus, a veritable sum of power and influence, that the country has known for a long time under his mandate.

The Fall of an Ancient Giant

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, at the height of his career, was the symbol of a Mauritania that, under his reign, believed itself invincible. But times have changed, and the accusations against him seem to want to bring out the good old habits of the debanquisa. The media revelations, worthy of the greatest thrillers, paint an unflattering portrait of a man of power who would have on his heart greed hidden under a triumphant smile and promises of prosperity.

Justice under pressure

The situation in Mauritania is proving delicate: justice, often manipulated and perceived as a tool at the service of the power in place, is today trying to re-establish a certain legitimacy. The hearings of Ould Abdel Aziz's relatives will be scrutinized, and political issues are likely to be mixed up in this affair. The former president, already accustomed to attacks from both the opposition and civil society, will have to navigate between pressure, media scrutiny and - why not - a possible show trial in a country eager to sweep away the old demons of corruption.

People's anger boiling

Mauritanians, for their part, are watching this drama with a mixture of indifference and irony. Social networks are ablaze with acerbic comments, caricatures and memes. "The mushroom farm of politicians", as one Internet user so aptly put it, is fueling a fundamental debate on the responsibility of leaders and fairness in the face of justice. Why are some able to get away with it, while others languish in prison for less? A question that not only crosses the minds of Mauritanians, but also particularly that of young people who hope for radical changes in their country.

It remains to be seen whether the Ould Abdel Aziz case will be a turning point in the fight against corruption or whether it will be a flash in the pan in a Mauritania still troubled by memories of past abuses. The eyes of the country, and even beyond, are fixed on this former president, because a trial determines not only the future of a man, but that of a system.