Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on corruption charges, following a court decision in the capital, Nouakchott. The ruling came after both the prosecution and defense appealed a previous sentence handed down in 2023.

Abdel Aziz, who led Mauritania for a decade after seizing power in a 2008 coup and winning elections in 2009 and 2014, was a key partner for Western nations in counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel. He has consistently denied the corruption allegations.

Initially sentenced to five years in prison in December 2023, the case was revisited after the state argued the punishment was too lenient, while his legal team contended that only a high court of justice had the authority to try a former head of state.

Defense lawyer Mohameden Ichidou criticized the ruling, claiming it reflects undue influence from the executive over the judiciary. He said the defense plans to take the case to the Supreme Court.

On the other side, state lawyer Brahim Ebety expressed satisfaction with the outcome, asserting that the evidence clearly showed Abdel Aziz was guilty of illicit enrichment, power abuse, and money laundering during his time in office.

The former president stepped down in 2019, handing power to Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, a former ally whose administration later initiated legal proceedings against him.