The verdict followed appeals from both the state and the former leader’s defense against a previous five-year term imposed in December 2023.
The case is significant not only for Mauritania but for the African continent as a whole, where convictions of former leaders of state are very unusual despite ongoing worries about rampant corruption.
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz’s decade of power and alleged corruption
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ascended to power in 2008 after a military coup, and he later gained legitimacy through an election in 2009.
Abdel Aziz was elected to a five-year term in 2009 and again in 2014. An election in 2019 resulted in the peaceful transition of power to Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who was initially an Abdel Aziz loyalist but was subsequently appointed by parliament.
Essentially, he controlled Mauritania for 10 years, and he was seen as an ally of Western powers in the struggle against Islamist terrorists in the Sahel, as seen on Reuters.
However, when he left office in 2019, a broad investigation dubbed the “Decade of Corruption” was opened against him.
It investigated government activities during his tenure, revealing an alleged labyrinth of corruption, money laundering, and abuse of authority.
Authorities finally froze $100 million, most of which was purportedly tied to Abdel Aziz and his family.
The trial, which began in January 2023, became Mauritania’s longest ever corruption trial, including some of the former president’s close cronies, according to Sputnik.
Abdel Aziz was convicted in December 2023 and sentenced to five years in jail, as well as having his civil rights revoked.
However, the state objected to what it perceived as a light penalty, while Abdel Aziz’s legal team said that only a high court of justice was entitled to try a former head of state.
On Wednesday, the 14th of May, the appellate court concurred with the state and imposed a significantly heavier 15-year term, emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses.
The court also ordered the liquidation of “Al-Rahma,” a charity associated with Abdel Aziz’s son, and seized its assets.
Why the conviction of Mauritania’s former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz matters?
Africa is home to various corrupt states, as evidenced by Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranks several African countries low.
As a result, it’s easy to see why it is extremely unusual for African politicians, particularly past presidents, to face prison time for economic crimes committed while in government.
The conviction of Abdel Aziz represents a possible, albeit sluggish, shift in the tide of responsibility for African leaders.
His case joins the likes of former Zambian president Frederick Chiluba, who was found guilty of theft and possession of state funds and imprisoned for three years.
However, in a move described as a setback for Zambia’s fight against corruption, Frederick Chiluba was acquitted of all charges in August 2009.
While Mohamed Ould Ghazouani’s conviction is still an ongoing event in Africa’s history, a 15-year prison term slapped on a former head of state is a landmark corruption case.
This new development demonstrates that no one is above the law, even those who once held the highest office.
However, there is the possibility that this is an isolated case, given that numerous African leaders continue to wield significant control over the judiciary and law enforcement institutions.
