The head of Mauritania's electoral commission has resigned because he has doubts over the "reliability" of last week's presidential vote. Sid'Ahmed Ould Deye said the complaints he had received had sown doubts in his mind - despite his own commission being satisfied with the election. Official results gave victory to Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, who initially took power in a coup last year. The opposition has said the poll was rigged and lodged complaints. Overseas observers praised the poll's conduct but said the challenges should be investigated. Mr Deye said he had resigned as a matter of "conscience". "The complaints I received, as well as the contents of the challenges sent to the Constitutional Court, have sown doubts in my mind about the reliability of the election," he said. On Sunday officials announced the general had won the poll outright with 52% of the vote, and put the turnout at 61%. Defeated presidential candidates have been strident in their criticism of the general, calling the election a charade. But Gen Abdelaziz has been equally adamant that the poll was not rigged. The general staged a coup in August 2008, ousting Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi - Mauritania's first democratically elected leader who had been in power for less than a year and a half. |
1 week ago
1 comment:
There is a every proof that the the General did not win the elections. It is only in Africa and indeed in Mauritania that someone could overthrow a constitutionally elected government and become president within a year. I ma not surprised at all as the the entire African union leadership is made up of people who came to power on the back of the gun.
The resignation is an indictment on both the president and the Overseas Observers who claimed the election was free and fair. I don't know what they always see that makes them to say declare elections free and fair. I think something must be done about the whole idea of international monitors. Either they tell the truth or they don't monitor at all.
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