Mauritania’s President Ghazouani wins reelection, the electoral commission says

Associated Press

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani won reelection after positioning the country as a strategic ally of the West in a region swept by coups and violence, the country’s electoral commission said on Monday. Ghazouani, who campaigned on a pledge of providing security and economic growth, obtained 56.1% of votes, the country’s independent electoral commission said on Monday. His main rival, anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, received 22.1% of votes, but earlier on Sunday rejected the partial results, alleging fraud. He has called for civil disobedience against the government.