What are the main achievements made by Mauritania under the leadership of Mohamed Ould El Ghazaouani?
Who is Mohamed Ould El Ghazaouani?
Mohamed Ould El Ghazaouani (born in Boumdeid, Wilaya of Assaba in 1959) announced his victory in the Mauritanian presidential elections, becoming the ninth president of the Republic since its independence, and the second to succeed an elected president. El Ghazaouani comes from a respected Sufi family that enjoys the respect of the political class.
El Ghazaouani is described as “calm by nature, cultured, and a professional military man,” and he enjoys acceptance and respect from the country’s leaders.
In 1978, he joined the Mauritanian army and subsequently obtained a degree in legal studies, followed by a master’s degree in administrative and military sciences, and received advanced military studies and training in Jordan.
Crises upon assuming power
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazaouani took office in the fourth quarter of 2019 after winning elections with 52% of the vote. His accession to power was fraught with many challenges, especially in managing the relationship with his predecessor Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who was determined to drag El Ghazaouani into a second round “to serve democracy.”
Sources close to the regime stated that the situation in which the government took power was closer to financial bankruptcy, and the government’s confidence in the circles of influence controlling financial and security affairs was very weak. El Ghazaouani‘s first step was the successive dismissal of influential figures associated with former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
With the Akjoujt crisis that deeply divided the “Mohamediyine,” a new path began to shape the identity of El Ghazaouani’s regime.
It can be said that the acceleration of work in this sector relies on the enormous amount of money in motion, which can cover corruption risks, patronage, and the influence of the wealthy through the pace of achievement and the volume of monthly work completed, although much of it has not yet entered into service.
The Republican school… the most challenging bet
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazaouani is betting on the Republican school, which means improving education and instilling republican values in Mauritanian children. Over the past four years, the sector has achieved several accomplishments, including:
– Increase in the number of educational facilities: according to the ministry, 2,000 classrooms out of 3,900 under construction have been completed.
– Recruitment of approximately 8,000 teachers.
– Revision of programs.
– Distribution of 85,000 new tables.
– Distribution of approximately one million copies of school books.
– Establishment of a school sponsorship for nearly 80,000 students.
– Distribution of scholarships to about 10,000 students.
– Increase in teacher allowances.
– Monopoly of the first year of primary education in favor of public education.
Over the past four years, there have been significant achievements in the areas of health, education, and infrastructure, according to data published by the government.
