Mohamed Ould Ghazouani Explained

Honorific Prefix:General
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
Native Name Lang:ar
Office:9th President of Mauritania
Term Start:1 August 2019
Primeminister:Mohamed Salem Ould Béchir
Ismail Ould Bedde Ould Cheikh Sidiya
Mohamed Ould Bilal
Mokhtar Ould Djay
Predecessor:Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Office1:22nd Chairperson of the African Union
Term Start1:17 February 2024
Predecessor1:Azali Assoumani
Office2:Minister of Defense
Term Start2:October 2018
Term End2:15 March 2019
President2:Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Primeminister2:Mohamed Salem Ould Béchir
Predecessor2:Jallow Mamadou Bhatia
Successor2:Yahya Ould Hademine
Office3:Chief of Army Staff
Term Start3:2008
Term End3:2018
President3:Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Predecessor3:Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Successor3:Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed Lemine
Birth Date:4 December 1956[1]
Birth Place:Boumdeid, Assaba Region, Colonial Mauritania
Nationality:Mauritanian
Party:Equity Party (since 2022)
Otherparty:Union for the Republic (until 2022)
Allegiance: Mauritania
Branch:Mauritanian Army
Serviceyears:1970s–2018
Rank: General
Commands:General Director of National Security
Chief of National Army Staff
Spouse:Mariam Mint Mohamed Vadel Ould Dah
Children:5
Residence:Presidential Palace, Nouakchott
Education:Received a baccalaureate and a master’s degree in Administration and Military Sciences

Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed Ahmed Ould Ghazouani (Arabic: محمد ولد الشيخ محمد أحمد ولد الغزواني; born 4 December 1956), also known as Ghazouani[2] and Ould Ghazouani,[3] is a Mauritanian politician and retired army general who has served as the 9th President of Mauritania since 2019,[4] and the chairperson of the African Union since February 2024.[5]

Ghazouani is a former general-director of National Security and former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Mauritania (2008–2018).[6] He was defense minister of Mauritania from October 2018 to March 2019.[7] [8] At that time a close ally of his predecessor Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, he was elected president of Mauritania on 22 June 2019 following the 2019 presidential election.[9] His victory in the 2019 presidential election was presented as having been the country's first peaceful transition of power since independence.[10]

Ghazouani has overseen a period of relative stability in Mauritania, gaining recognition as a stabilizing force in a region troubled by coups and extremist violence. He has worked to improve social security and combat corruption, including the arrest of his predecessor. Ghazouani also played a crucial role in eliminating jihadist violence, modernizing the military, and engaging with communities and Islamist groups, maintaining Mauritania's freedom from terrorism for over 13 years.[11]

Personal life

Ghazouani was born in Boumdeid, Assaba region on 4 December 1956.[12] He belongs to a well-known Sufi family in Mauritania. Ghazouani is the son of a spiritual leader of the Maraboutic tribe Ideiboussat.[13] Ghazouani has memorised the Quran.[14]

He is married to a doctor, Mariam Bint Mohamed Fadel Ould Dah.[15] They have five children, from whom Mohamed Lemine Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani is the eldest son.

Career

Military career

He joined the Mauritanian Army in the late 1970s. He continued his training as an officer in the Meknes Royal Military Academy in Morocco.[16] [17] [18] He received a baccalaureate degree, a master's degree in Administration and Military Sciences, and completed several war training certificates and courses.[19]

Ghazouani was aide-de-camp to President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya from 1987 to 1991.[20]

Ghazouani was an ally of former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz,[21] and was his partner in the overthrow of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in 2008, and was a member of the military junta that ousted former President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya in 2005.[22] [8]

Political career

In October 2018, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz named Ghazouani as Defense Minister of Mauritania.[8] [23]

On 1 March 2019, Ghazouani announced his candidacy for the presidency, seeking to replace Abdel Aziz.[24] [3] [2] On 15 March he resigned as defense minister to pursue his presidential ambition.[25]

Presidency (2019–)

On 22 June 2019, Ghazouani became Mauritania's elected president after a presidential election against five other candidates.[26] On 1 August 2019, he was officially sworn in as the 9th President of Mauritania.[27]

Shortly after being sworn in, his relations with former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz soured, due to revelations of financial misconduct committed by the former president. A parliamentary probe was opened into Aziz’s activities in August 2020, and he was officially sentenced in December 2023. Aziz claimed that Ghazouani had given the former president two large bags filled with seven million euros after being elected.[28]

As defense minister and president, Ghazouani significantly contributed to defeating al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, which had carried out deadly attacks in Mauritania from 2005 to 2011. His efforts, including community outreach, mediation with Islamist groups, and military upgrades, have effectively eradicated extremism.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: السيرة الذاتية للفريق محمد ولد الغزواني - أقــــلام حرة. aqlame.com. 2019-06-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331231743/http://aqlame.com/article39153.html. 2019-03-31. dead.
  2. Web site: غزواني يعلن ترشحه للانتخابات الرئاسية. 1 March 2019. 23 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331191910/https://www.saharamedias.net/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD%D9%87-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1/. 31 March 2019. dead.
  3. Web site: ولد الغزواني: للعهد عندي معناه، وأسعى لتحقيق طموح الشعب. 1 March 2019. الأخبار: أول وكالة أنباء موريتانية مستقلة. 25 August 2021. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102202731/https://alakhbar.info/?q=node%2F16246. live.
  4. Web site: Ghazouani sworn in as new Mauritanian president: CENI. www.aa.com.tr. 2019-08-01. 2019-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20190825084015/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/ghazouani-sworn-in-as-new-mauritanian-president/1547283. live.
  5. Web site: President of Mauritania Elected As New Chairperson of AU. ENA English. 19 February 2024.
  6. Web site: Mohamed Ould Ghazouani Declares himself Winner of Mauritania Presidential Polls. Asharq AL-awsat. 2019-06-23. 2019-06-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190624165329/https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1780796/mohamed-ould-ghazouani-declares-himself-winner-mauritania-presidential-polls. live.
  7. Web site: صديق الرئيس وزيرا للدفاع.. ماذا يرتّب جنرالات موريتانيا قبيل الرئاسيات؟. www.aljazeera.net. 2021-08-25. 2019-01-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20190127224313/https://www.aljazeera.net/news/reportsandinterviews/2018/11/7/%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%82-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA. live.
  8. Web site: Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Mauritania's new president. www.aa.com.tr. 2019-06-25. 2019-06-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20190627031049/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/mohamed-ould-ghazouani-mauritanias-new-president-/1514174. live.
  9. Web site: Mauritania Constitutional Council Confirms Mohamed Ould Ghazouani as President. Voice of America. July 2019 . 2019-07-02. 2019-07-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190701215134/https://www.voanews.com/africa/mauritania-constitutional-council-confirms-mohamed-ould-ghazouani-president. live.
  10. Web site: 2019-06-22. First peaceful transfer of power in Mauritania's presidential polls. 2021-08-23. RFI. en. 2021-04-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414151154/https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20190622-first-peaceful-transfer-power-mauritanias-presidential-polls. live.
  11. News: Mauritania is a beacon of stability in the coup-prone Sahel . 2024-08-10 . The Economist . 0013-0613.
  12. Web site: من هو الرئيس الموريتاني الجديد؟. أحمد ولد. سيدي. alaraby. 2021-08-25. 2019-12-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20191213105329/https://www.alaraby.co.uk/politics/2019/6/24/%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-. live.
  13. Spiegel. Justine. 20 November 2012. Mauritanie: Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, l'homme de l'ombre. Jeune Afrique. 27 June 2019. 14 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190714043337/https://www.jeuneafrique.com/139295/politique/mauritanie-mohamed-ould-ghazouani-l-homme-de-l-ombre/. live.
  14. Web site: رئيس موريتانيا الجديد.. حفظ القرآن مبكرا وهو أول "فريق" في الجيش. August 3, 2019. الأخبار. August 25, 2021. August 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190804170843/https://alakhbar.info/?q=node%2F19371. live.
  15. Web site: في أول ظهور إعلامي لها زوجة وزير الدفاع ومرشح الرئاسيات ولد الغزواني تتحدث في مقابلة | الحقيقة. www.alhakika.info. 2019-06-27. 2019-06-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20190627064859/https://www.alhakika.info/node/10900. live.
  16. Web site: AMI - Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazwani . 2023-10-07 . olden.ami.mr.
  17. Web site: 2012-11-20 . Mauritanie : Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, l'homme de l'ombre – Jeune Afrique . 2023-10-07 . JeuneAfrique.com . fr-FR.
  18. Web site: Mauritanie. Ghazouani: qui est le nouveau président mauritanien? . 2023-10-07 . Le 360 Afrique . fr.
  19. Web site: Mauritania: Former General Mohamed Ould Ghazouani wins presidential election. 23 June 2019. Deutsche. Welle. DW.COM. 24 June 2019. 24 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190624160217/https://www.dw.com/en/mauritania-former-general-mohamed-ould-ghazouani-wins-presidential-election/a-49305828. live.
  20. Web site: Biographie du president. presidence.mr.
  21. News: Mauritania opposition challenges ruling party win. June 24, 2019. www.bbc.com. June 25, 2019. October 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191015002659/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48740556. live.
  22. News: ولد الغزواني، جنرال "يخلف" جنرالاً في حكم موريتانيا. BBC News عربي . June 24, 2019. June 25, 2019. June 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190630041933/http://www.bbc.com/arabic/world-48744327. live.
  23. Web site: Mauritania appointments reflect jockeying for succession | Lamine Ghanmi. AW. 2019-06-27. 2020-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412091130/https://thearabweekly.com/mauritania-appointments-reflect-jockeying-succession. live.
  24. Web site: وزير الدفاع الموريتاني يخلع بزته العسكرية لخلافة رفيقه في القصر. www.aljazeera.net. 2021-08-25. 2019-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20190621051711/https://www.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2019/3/2/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2. live.
  25. Web site: Mauritania's electoral commission confirms Ghazouani win | The Star. thestar.com. 24 June 2019 . 2019-06-27. 2019-07-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20190704040443/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/africa/2019/06/24/mauritanias-electoral-commission-confirms-ghazouani-win.html. live.
  26. Web site: محمد ولد الشيخ الغزواني.. من هو رئيس موريتانيا الجديد؟. سكاي نيوز عربية. 2021-08-25. 2020-03-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20200326220627/https://www.skynewsarabia.com/middle-east/1261742-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%87%D9%88-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%9F. live.
  27. Web site: New government formed in Mauritania . www.aa.com.tr. 2019-08-16. 2019-08-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20190816075841/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/new-government-formed-in-mauritania/1553284. live.
  28. Web site: Mauritania ex-president Aziz sentenced to 5 years for corruption . France 24 . 4 December 2023 . 14 December 2023.

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