Mauritanian president consolidates his power base

Significance

The highest-profile event is an ongoing inquiry into alleged corruption under the previous president (and a former ally of the current one), Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who was formally charged with corruption and other crimes in March. The fact tht this high-drama but slow-moving case is the top story points to how quiet the political scene is overall.

Impacts

• Anti-corruption efforts can serve as public relations tools for building credibility abroad.
• Corruption probes can serve as a warning to current officials that they, too, may face scrutiny in future.
• The dropping of charges against Ould Abdel Aziz’s enemies is allowing key political players, such as Ould Bouamatou, to reassert influence.