A Mauritanian appeals court has upheld a 15-year prison sentence and imposed a $3 million fine on former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, reinforcing a 2023 ruling that found him guilty of corruption, money laundering, and illicit self-enrichment.
Aziz, a former military general who seized power through two coups and served as president from 2009 to 2019, was accused of amassing over $70 million in assets during his decade in office. He has remained in custody since his initial conviction last year.
The trial has attracted international attention as a rare instance of an African former head of state being held accountable for corruption committed while in office.
Aziz’s legal team has denounced the charges as politically motivated, attributing them to a fallout with his successor, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.
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The case stems from a wide-ranging investigation launched in 2020 by a parliamentary commission into alleged mismanagement and embezzlement under Aziz’s administration. The inquiry eventually implicated 11 other individuals, including members of his inner circle.
In its latest ruling, delivered on Wednesday, the court acquitted six senior officials from Aziz’s former government but upheld a two-year prison sentence for his son-in-law on charges related to influence peddling.
The court also ordered the dissolution of the “Errahma” (Mercy) Foundation, a charitable organisation operated by Aziz’s son, and authorised the seizure of its assets.
Aziz’s sentencing is being seen by some observers as a potential turning point in Mauritania’s political and judicial evolution, indicating a firmer stance against corruption at the highest levels of power.
