Latest news with #MohamedOuldAbdelAziz
Free Malaysia Today
29-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Former Mauritanian president jailed for 15 years
The former president led the country for a decade after coming to power in a 2008 coup. (EPA Images pic) NOUAKCHOTT : Mauritania's former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday on corruption charges following an appeal to a Nouakchott court by both the state and Aziz's defence against a sentence imposed in 2023. Abdel Aziz led the West African country for a decade after coming to power in a 2008 coup, followed by an election a year later. He was an ally of Western powers fighting Islamist militants in the Sahel region. Abdel Aziz, who has denied corruption allegations, was found guilty of economic crimes and abuse of power. He was initially handed a five-year prison sentence in Dec 2023 before the state appealed against the leniency of that punishment and Aziz's team appealed the ruling, saying only a high court of justice was qualified to try a former president. 'It is a decision that reflects the pressure the executive branch exerts on the judiciary,' defence lawyer Mohameden Ichidou told Reuters, adding that the defence would appeal against the decision to the Supreme Court. Brahim Ebety, one of the plaintiff lawyers for the Mauritanian state, welcomed the ruling. 'All the evidence has established that the former president, who single-handedly ruled the entire country, is the perpetrator of illicit enrichment, abuse of power, and money laundering,' he said. Abdel Aziz was elected on a five-year mandate in 2009 and for a second term in 2014. An election in 2019 led to a peaceful transfer of power to Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, initially an ally of Abdel Aziz, but whose parliament later brought charges against him.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Focus on Africa President Trump confronts President Ramaphosa
The US President Donald Trump, confronted South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa with false claims of white genocide and land seizures during a tense White House meeting. It was reminiscent of the US President's ambush of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier this year. At a time when diplomacy means everything, how did the South African President fare and what next for the US/South Africa relationship? Also, who will the next President of the African Development Bank be? And we find out more about the former Mauritanian president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who has been jailed for 15 years. Presenter: Richard Kagoe Producers: Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan and Tom Kavanagh Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
The Star
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Former Mauritanian president jailed for 15 years following appeal
Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz attends the closing session ofÊSudan's National Dialogue at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, Sudan, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Mauritania's former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, was on Wednesday sentenced to 15 years in prison on corruption charges following an appeal to a Nouakchott court by both the state and Aziz's defence against a sentence imposed in 2023. Abdel Aziz led the West African country for a decade after coming to power in a 2008 coup, followed by an election a year later. He was an ally of Western powers fighting Islamist militants in the Sahel region. Abdel Aziz, who has denied corruption allegations, was found guilty of economic crimes and abuse of power. He was initially handed a five-year prison sentence in December 2023 before the state appealed against the leniency of that punishment and Aziz's team appealed the ruling, saying only a high court of justice was qualified to try a former president. "It is a decision that reflects the pressure the executive branch exerts on the judiciary," defence lawyer Mohameden Ichidou told Reuters, adding that the defence would appeal against the decision to the Supreme Court. Brahim Ebety, one of the plaintiff lawyers for the Mauritanian state, welcomed the ruling. "All the evidence has established that the former president, who single-handedly ruled the entire country, is the perpetrator of illicit enrichment, abuse of power, and money laundering," he said. Abdel Aziz was elected on a five-year mandate in 2009 and for a second term in 2014. An election in 2019 led to a peaceful transfer of power to Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, initially an ally of Abdel Aziz, but whose parliament later brought charges against him. (Editing by Portia Crowe, editing by Ed Osmond)
Toronto Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Mauritania's former president is sentenced to 15 years in prison after appealing a 5-year verdict
NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — An appeals court in Mauritania handed down a 15-year prison sentence and a $3 million fine to former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on Wednesday after he appealed a five-year sentence. Aziz helped lead two coups before serving two terms as president of the northwest African country and becoming a counterterrorism partner to Western nations.
Washington Post
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Mauritania's former president is sentenced to 15 years in prison after appealing a 5-year verdict
NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania — An appeals court in Mauritania handed down a 15-year prison sentence and a $3 million fine to former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on Wednesday after he appealed a five-year sentence. Aziz helped lead two coups before serving two terms as president of the northwest African country and becoming a counterterrorism partner to Western nations.
