Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who has been leading the country since 2019, announced his candidacy for a second term in the upcoming presidential elections set for June.
In a direct message to citizens, Ghazouani stated that he decided to seek their trust for a new term as a response to duty and a commitment to continue serving them.
He described the upcoming presidential elections as a significant milestone in consolidating the country's democratic system, pledging to review plans and develop programs to propel the nation towards further progress and development.
Ghazouani, the current President of the African Union, is considered the frontrunner in opinion polls, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Last year, his party, "El-Inseerah," achieved a landslide victory in the legislative elections, securing 107 out of 176 seats in the National Assembly, significantly ahead of the Islamic "Tawassoul" party, which won 11 seats.
Moreover, opposition figure and anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid also announced his candidacy on Wednesday, following his second-place finish in the last presidential elections.
Expressing concerns about the electoral process, Abeid, whose movement "IRA" lacks legal recognition, stated, "We are moving forward, aware of the flaws in the electoral register and the biases and shortcomings of the Independent National Electoral Commission."
Mauritania witnessed a series of coups from 1978 to 2008 before the 2019 elections marked the first democratic transition between elected presidents.
While violence has plagued other parts of the African Sahel region, particularly neighboring Mali, Mauritania has not experienced any attacks since 2011.
According to a presidential decree issued this month, the electoral campaign will commence at midnight on June 14 and conclude at midnight on June 27.
The first round of presidential elections is scheduled for June 29, with the possibility of a runoff on July 14.
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