Voters in Mauritania headed to the polls on Saturday, June 29, to elect their new leader, with around 1.9 million Mauritanians eligible to cast their ballots. The election sees seven candidates vying for the presidency, including the incumbent President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
Prominent opposition figures in the race include Hamadi Sidi Mokhtar Mohamed Abdi, leader of the first opposition party in parliament, and Biram Dah Abeid, an anti-discrimination activist. If no candidate secures at least 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held on July 14.
Results from the election are expected in the coming days.
The election comes in the wake of last year’s legislative victory by the ruling El Insaf party, which secured 107 of the 176 seats in the National Assembly.
Key issues for voters include youth unemployment, the threat of terrorism in neighbouring countries leading to displacement into Mauritania, and the rising cost of living.
