Mauritania re-elected President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani for a second term as he emerged victorious in the national election held Saturday, reserving 56.1% of the votes.
Mauritania’s independent electoral commission revealed the results on Monday, with a voter turnout of 55% out of the 2 million eligible voters.
Some opposition candidates however have expressed different perspectives - accusations of collusion with Ghazouani's regime.
The electoral commission has been accused of fraud in awarding Ghazouni thousands of votes out of nowhere.
Anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, who received 22.1% of the votes, appealed to the military and security forces not to be manipulated by the government against the people.
Mauritanians view the re-elected president as a symbol of stability, regardless of the allegations of corruption and mismanagement from his opponents.
The re-election of Ghazouani is said to solidify Mauritania's position as a key ally of the West in a region disrupted by instability and violence, according to Africa News.