2024-07-10 02:01:31
Mauritanian authorities announced, on Monday evening, the release of all citizens who were arrested following their participation in the recent riots that took place in the country.
Security authorities arrested 1,500 demonstrators during protests by opposition supporters against the results of the presidential elections, which took place on June 29, and in which 4 people were killed in the city of Kaedi in the south of the country, according to what was reported by opposition presidential candidate Biram Dah Abeid, who came in second in the presidential elections.
The Mauritanian Ministry of Interior stated in a statement on Facebook that “in order to maintain the atmosphere of calm and forgiveness, all citizens who were arrested following their participation in the riots that recently took place in some areas of the country have been released, while foreigners who participated in these events have been detained, pending the completion of the applicable legal procedures.”
Opposition figure Biram Dah Abeid, who still refuses to recognize the results of the presidential election, criticized the authorities for targeting his supporters during their peaceful protests, according to him, with killing, torture, ill-treatment, and arbitrary arrest.
In this context, the Ministry of Interior reminded “all citizens and residents that the public authorities will remain keen to ensure the establishment of public security and tranquility, while providing the individual and collective rights guaranteed by law, within the framework of the rule of law and institutions.”
The Mauritanian authorities had cut off mobile internet service due to riots and violence in several neighborhoods of the capital, Nouakchott, in protest against the results of the presidential elections, in which Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani won a second presidential term.
The protests were led by supporters of opposition candidate Biram Dah Abeid, who chanted slogans confirming his victory in the elections and accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission of fraud in favor of the outgoing president.
The protesters tried to reach the headquarters of the Election Commission, but riot police dispersed them using tear gas bombs. However, the protests resumed shortly before midnight simultaneously in several neighborhoods, after an audio clip was circulated via the WhatsApp application in which the speaker confirms Ould Abeid’s victory in the presidential elections, and calls on his supporters to celebrate.
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2024-07-10 02:01:31