Mobile internet services have been cut in Mauritania’s capital, Nouakchott, since Monday night following disturbances that erupted after the announcement of incumbent President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani’s re-election victory.
Witnesses reported scuffles in working-class districts of Nouakchott on Monday evening, hours after provisional results indicated Ghazouani had comfortably won the presidential election held on Saturday. The extent of the disorder was not specified.
On Tuesday, Nouakchott appeared calm with businesses operating normally. The authorities have not provided any comments regarding the mobile internet cuts.
The second-place candidate, anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, denounced the election results as “massive fraud” and threatened peaceful street demonstrations. Abeid mentioned that he was awaiting his team’s analysis of the election results before making a final decision on further actions.
The aftermath of the 2019 election, which saw Ghazouani come to power, was marked by clashes and the arrest of opponents, along with a 10-day internet blackout.