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Mauritanian PM reappointed amid electricity crisis

Overview

Mauritanian Prime Minister Moctar Ould Diay submitted his government's resignation to President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. In his departure statement, Diay expressed gratitude for the President's support and praised his ministers for their efforts in implementing the presidential program, while also assuming responsibility for any “shortcomings or failures in government performance” during his tenure.

Following the resignation, reports indicated that Diay maintains a strategic role within the executive branch. President Ghazouani expressed renewed confidence in Diay, citing his ability to manage public finances, administration, and the coordination of presidential programs to translate state orientations into action.

On October 9, 2026, President Ghazouani reappointed Diay to form a new 29-member government. This reappointment follows the release of an independent commission's report regarding major electrical infrastructure failures. The report investigated two fires in August at transformer substations operated by the Mauritanian Electricity Company (Somelec) in Nouakchott, which left over one million people without power. The investigation identified serious deficiencies in prevention, electrical protection, work supervision, and emergency management, while noting irregularities in a $9 million cable replacement contract. The report specifically implicated former Energy Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled for oversight failures.

The new cabinet includes several returning ministers but features replacements for others, including Mohamed Ould Abdel Vetah, the former High Commissioner of the Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal (OMVS), as the new Minister of Energy and Petroleum. While the reshuffle is viewed by some as an effort to maintain stability and bolster international confidence, the political opposition has criticized the lack of diversity in the cabinet and is calling for judicial action, suggesting that a reshuffle alone may not satisfy public indignation regarding the power outages.

Entities

Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani · Mauritania · Moctar Ould Diay · Somelec · Mauritanian Electricity Company

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Mauritania reshuffles government following electrical grid scandal

    Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani has reappointed Prime Minister Moctar Ould Diay to form a new government following an electrical infrastructure scandal and widespread power outages.

  2. [POLITICS] 8 sources
    Mauritania forms new government following cabinet resignation

    Mauritania has formed a new government under reappointed Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Djay, featuring Mohamed Ould Abdel Vetah as the new Minister of Energy and Petroleum.

  3. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Mokhtar Ould Diay maintains strategic role in executive leadership

    Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Diay plays a strategic role in the executive, coordinating presidential programs and translating state policy into concrete actions under the confidence of President El Ghazouani.

  4. [POLITICS] 14 sources
    Mauritania reappoints PM following electricity crisis report

    Mauritanian PM Mokhtar Ould Djay has been reappointed to form a new government following a resignation triggered by a report on major electrical infrastructure failures and fires in Nouakchott.

Sources

africapresse.com · afrikactus.com · afriquevision.info · alaraby.co.uk · arabnews.pk · chezvlane.com · cronicadecantabria.com · espacemanager.com · fr.aljazayr.com · guinafnews.org · infomediaire.net · initiativesnews.com · maghrebemergent.news · maroc-actu.com · maroc24.com · newscentral.africa · pointschauds.info · pressafrik.com · saharamedias.net · senalioune.com · sunuker.com · taqadoum.mr · uruguayaldia.com.uy

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history