Mauritania, a country in Northwest Africa went to polls for the first time since the African nation gained independence from France nearly 60 years ago.
a. Morocco
b. Mauritania
c. Liberia
d. Nigeria
- Following independence, the country has mostly been ruled by. Non-elected military governments.
Details:
- President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who seized power in a military coup in 2008, agreed to step down and abide by serving a period of maximum two five-year elected terms.
- Under his reign, he has positioned Mauritania, as an ally of West against Islamist militants.
- Bound by term limits, Abdel Aziz threw his support behind 62-year-old Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
- Ghazouani, a former general and defence minister were heavily tipped to replace outgoing President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
- These elections are being held to choose a successor to a democratically-elected president.
- However, they are being criticized for being held in absence of international observers and printing of ballot papers by a company with ties to the ruling party.
About Mauritania:
- The country is officially named 'Islamic Republic of Mauritania' and lies on the Atlantic coast of Africa.
- It is home to fewer than 5 million people across a vast expanse of Western Sahara Desert.
- In 1981, Mauritania became the final country in the world to formally abolish slavery, but it continues to this day.
Question:
Q. Which country in Northwest Africa went to polls for the first time since the African nation gained independence from France nearly 60 years ago?a. Morocco
b. Mauritania
c. Liberia
d. Nigeria
