Nouakchott, Mauritania – (African Boulevard News) – Mauritania’s ruling party, the El Insaf, has emerged victorious in the legislative and local elections held on Saturday, according to official results published by the electoral commission on Sunday. The party won a majority of the seats in both the legislative and local councils, cementing their grip on power in the West African nation.
The elections, which were widely expected to test the popularity of the ruling party following years of social and economic discontent, have been praised for their peacefulness, with no major incidents of violence or disruption reported. The turnout was also high, with millions of Mauritanians queuing up to cast their votes throughout the day.
In the legislative polls, the El Insaf party secured 121 seats out of the 157 seats available, with the opposition parties sharing the remaining seats. The results mean that the ruling party has increased its majority in the National Assembly, which they already controlled with 87 seats. Meanwhile, in the local polls, El Insaf won 129 out of the 218 seats available, giving the party a clear mandate to govern at the local level.
Speaking shortly after the announcement of the results, President Mohamed Ghazouani hailed the victory as a “triumph for democracy and the rule of law”. He added that the election “demonstrated the maturity and wisdom of the Mauritanian people, who have once again shown their commitment to peaceful and democratic change”.
The opposition, however, has rejected the results, accusing the ruling party of “vote-rigging and intimidation”. Some opposition leaders have also called for mass protests to challenge the outcome of the election.
Despite the allegations of irregularities, international observers have largely praised the conduct of the elections, saying they were “free, fair, and transparent”. The European Union, the African Union, and the United Nations, among others, have all released statements congratulating the Mauritanian people on a successful election.
Analysts say the victory for the ruling party is a significant boost for President Ghazouani, who took office in 2019 after winning a controversial election. It also consolidates the party’s hold on power and makes it easier for the president to push through his reform agenda.
As Mauritania prepares for a new era of governance, it remains to be seen whether the opposition’s claims of vote-rigging will be heard and if they will lead to any political upheaval in the country.
