Mauritania’s new president will try to manage tensions

Significance

The hand-picked successor of outgoing President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Ould Ghazouani is expected to provide significant policy continuity. The transition will, however, likely bring intra-elite shifts, while raising questions about broader issues of social and racial inclusion, especially given the protests and fraud allegations that greeted the results.

Impacts

• No major foreign policy changes are likely, although Ould Ghazouani may consider reconciliation with some dissidents abroad.
• Rumours of an imminent rift between Ould Abdel Aziz and Ould Ghazouani seem overstated but Ould Abdel Aziz will remain politically active.
• Ould Abdel Aziz has hinted at running for president in 2024, but it is unclear if Ould Ghazouani will regard himself as just a caretaker.