Six months ahead of the Mauritanian presidential elections, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who is due to leave power according to the constitution, cuts his last cards.
Indeed, the “dream team” was formed Tuesday, October 30 by the new Prime Minister Mohamed Salem O. Bechir, called to be equipped with a magic wand to solve the problems of Mauritanians and to coordinate the next electoral contest, that of Presidential elections of 2019.
First remark on the new machinery of government: all the former ministers are kept in their posts, except for some strategic changes. The appointment of General Mohamed Ahmed O. Gazouani as Minister of Defense to replace Diallo Mamadou Bathia was undoubtedly the highlight. Many observers did not expect it.
Party retired a few weeks ago, the presence of this man of confidence of President Aziz “on” this new team gives ideas on the succession of raïs. The marked path to entrust the reins of power to the general, it seems, is taking shape more and more.
The other surprise is the departure of Mohamed Lemine O. Sheikh, the Minister of Culture and Handicrafts. The former spokesman of the government is one of the hawks of the palace, known for his incendiary outings to the opposition. He has always defended the thesis of a third term of the current tenant of the Gray Palace.
Ould Cheikh has been replaced by Sidi Mohamed O. Maham, the president of the Union for the Republic (UPR), which returns in force after leaving the executive a few years ago. His entry into the government leaves empty the chair of the presidential party presidency, which in the coming days, hold a congress to elect a new leadership. All eyes are on the post, a few months ahead of the presidential elections which are decisive.
Also note that Dinda Ball enters the new team as Minister of Youth and Sports.
The former Minister of Equipment and Transport, Mohamed Abdallahi O. Oudaa, has packed his bags. According to the electoral logic, the latter will be promoted to a new position of responsibility since he largely won the elections (legislative, regional and local) of August 15 in his locality of Trarza.
Will he be the new boss of the country’s Industrial and Mining Company (SNIM), the mother country of the country? Who to take the reins of the presidential party? So many questions remain. The suspense continues.
