Ex-president won't help corruption probe 'tarnish' him



The former president of Mauritania has refused to answer questions from corruption investigators, saying an article in the constitution "grants him immunity".

Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz refused on Friday to sign the minutes of the interrogation and remained silent throughout the whole process which began on 6 January, local media said.

Mr Ould Abdelaziz has been named in a parliamentary investigation along with former prime ministers and cabinet ministers who served during his presidency from 2008 to 2019.

He is accused of involvement in "corruption and misappropriation of public funds". He denied all the accusations, which he called an attempt to "tarnish his reputation".

Mr Ould Abdelaziz came to power in a military coup when he toppled Mauritania's only democratically elected president, Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who died last year.

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