the outgoing Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani in the lead, according to partial results

The main opponent, anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, warned that he would not recognize the results, accusing those in power of exploiting the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He comes in well ahead according to partial results. The outgoing Mauritanian president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, is credited with more than 55% of the votes after the counting of around 90% of the ballots on Sunday June 30, according to the online platform of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni). The latter continuously publishes, office by office, the results of the presidential election held on Saturday. The participation rate is around 55%, according to the Ceni.

During the election campaign, the 67-year-old head of state presented himself as the guarantor of stability in Mauritania, which has not experienced a jihadist attack on its soil since 2011, while they continue to shake neighboring Mali and the rest of the Sahel.

The main opponent, Biram Dah Abeid, came in second place with around 22% of the votes. On Sunday, during a press conference, he affirmed that he would not recognize the results of “the Ceni of Ghazouani”which he accuses of being used by the government.

“We will only recognise our own results and, on this basis, we will take to the streets to reject the electoral hold-up”, hammered this 59-year-old anti-slavery activist. The protest movement “will be peaceful”, he promised, calling on the army and the police to “not following the regime’s orders.”