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| Presidency of Mauritania | |
|---|---|
| Name | Presidency of Mauritania |
| Incumbent | Mohamed Ould Ghazouani |
| Incumbentsince | 1 August 2019 |
| Residence | Presidential Palace, Nouakchott |
| Formation | 20 August 1960 |
| Inaugural | Moktar Ould Daddah |
| Deputy | Prime Minister of Mauritania |
| Termlength | Five years, renewable once |
Presidency of Mauritania
The Presidency of Mauritania is the office held by the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, established at independence in 1960 and shaped by personalities such as Moktar Ould Daddah, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, and Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. The role intersects with institutions like the Constitution of Mauritania (1991, 2006), the National Assembly (Mauritania), the High Council of State (Mauritania), and external actors such as France and the African Union. The office has been central to episodes including the 1968–73droughts in the Sahel, the 1991 Constitution referendum, the 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état, and efforts at regional diplomacy with Senegal, Mali, and Algeria.
From independence the presidency was inaugurated by Moktar Ould Daddah, who led the Mauritanian Regime (1960s) and presided over the first single-party era alongside ties to France. The 1978 coup led by Colonel Mustafa Ould Salek and the subsequent Military Committee for National Recovery introduced military rule, succeeded by the presidency of Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla and later Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, whose 1984 coup and 1991 constitution restored a civilian framework contested by opposition parties including Rally of Democratic Forces (Mauritania) and Union for Democracy and Progress (Mauritania). The 2005 coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall set the stage for a return to elections culminating in Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi's 2007 victory and the 2008 overthrow by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, whose 2009 election was followed by the 2019 transfer to Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, marking a rare competitive handover and engagement with ECOWAS and the United Nations.
The constitution assigns the president duties including representing the state in foreign affairs with partners such as the United States, European Union, and Arab League; nominating the Prime Minister of Mauritania; presiding over the High Security Council (Mauritania); and serving as commander-in-chief interacting with the Mauritanian Army, National Gendarmerie (Mauritania), and Presidential Guard (Mauritania). Constitutional texts from the Constitutional Council (Mauritania) outline term limits, emergency powers used during crises like the 2012 Northern Mali conflict, and imposition of states of emergency in response to events such as the 2005 Sahel famine. Judicial appointments involve the Supreme Court of Mauritania and the Constitutional Council, while legislation involves promulgation of laws passed by the National Assembly (Mauritania) and ratification of treaties including agreements with European Union partners and bilateral accords with Spain and Mauritius-linked bodies.
Presidential elections follow rules administered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Mauritania), with eligibility criteria referenced in the Constitution of Mauritania and oversight by domestic observers and international bodies like the African Union and United Nations Mission in Mauritania (UN). Succession in cases of vacancy involves the President of the National Assembly (Mauritania) or the Constitutional Council (Mauritania) depending on circumstances, reflecting precedents from the aftermath of the 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état and the transitional arrangements of 2005. Campaigns have featured parties such as the Union for the Republic (Mauritania), Harakat Adeine (Tewassoul), and coalitions including Rally for Democracy and Unity (Mauritania), with voter registration and diaspora voting influenced by agreements with France and Mauritanian consulates.
The official residence is the Presidential Palace, Nouakchott, site of state receptions with foreign leaders like Emmanuel Macron, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, and envoys from the United Nations. National symbols associated with the presidency include the Flag of Mauritania (2017) and presidential standards used during ceremonies at locations like the Nouakchott International Airport and state visits to capitals such as Rabat and Bamako. Ceremonial units include the Presidential Guard (Mauritania) and state protocol coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mauritania) and national monuments like the Monument of Independence (Nouakchott).
Prominent holders include Moktar Ould Daddah (1960–1978), Colonel Mustafa Ould Salek (1978–1979), Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla (1979–1984), Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya (1984–2005), Ely Ould Mohamed Vall (2005–2007), Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi (2007–2008), Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (2009–2019), and Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (2019–present). Interim and junta leaders include members of the Military Committee for National Recovery and the High Council of State (Mauritania), reflecting transitions associated with the 1978 coup d'état, 2005 coup d'état, and 2008 coup d'état.
Presidential authority has shaped policy toward resource management of Iron ore in Mauritania, the Mauritanian fishing industry, and agreements with multinational firms from Spain, China, and South Korea. Leaders engaged with regional security initiatives against threats linked to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, coordinating with missions like Operation Barkhane and bilateral security arrangements with France and the United States Africa Command. Domestic politics have involved parties such as Union for the Republic (Mauritania), Tewassoul, and civil society groups including SOS-Esclaves and labor movements linked to the Mauritanian Workers' Union.
The presidency has been marked by controversies including accusations of human rights abuses raised by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International concerning practices condemned by the United Nations Human Rights Council and litigation in forums like the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. Coups in 1978, 1984, 2005, and 2008 involved figures such as Moktar Ould Daddah, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, provoking sanctions from the European Union and suspension from the African Union. Electoral disputes prompted interventions by observers from ECOWAS, the United Nations, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, while transitional councils and reconciliation efforts engaged actors like the National Pact (Mauritania) and regional mediators from Algeria and Senegal.
Category:Politics of Mauritania