Mauritania: three dead in jail for post-election protests
Three protesters have been found dead whilst under detention in Mauritania on July 3rd, reported Middle East Online and agencies. The demonstrators were detained for protesting the West African country’s recent Presidential election in the town of Kaedi, near the border with Senegal.
The Mauritanian government stated that protests in the southern town became violent on July 1st, leading security forces to confront protesters and carry out mass arrests.
“Unfortunately, under these circumstances, three demonstrators died. Two of them died in the detention facility in the presence of their fellow detainees, while the third died later in the hospital,” stated the ministry.
The causes of death nor the number of protesters arrested were revealed to the press, though the Mauritanian authorities would carry out an investigation.
READ: Mauritania: Ghazouani tipped to win 2nd presidential term
Disorder arose on June 30th following an announcement that President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani had won a second term. The provisional results were rejected by Ghazouni’s main opponent Biram Dah Abeid, prominent anti-slavery activist, who claimed there were irregularities in the voting.
Authorities have restricted internet access since July 2nd” amid protests rejecting the results of this weekend’s presidential elections”, reported Netblocks, an internet monitor.
The 2019 presidential vote also saw small-scale protests launched by the opposition, which questioned the credibility of the electoral process.
Middle East Online and agencies
