Mauritania
President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was “lightly wounded” after a military patrol
accidentally fired on his convoy, the government said on Saturday.
President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was “lightly wounded” after a military patrol
accidentally fired on his convoy, the government said on Saturday.
Abdel
Aziz is undergoing treatment at a military hospital in the capital Nouakchott,
a source at the presidency and two military sources told Reuters.
Aziz is undergoing treatment at a military hospital in the capital Nouakchott,
a source at the presidency and two military sources told Reuters.
They
did not give further details and it was not immediately clear why the military
convoy opened fire on the convoy.
“On his way back to Nouakchott, the presidential convoy was shot by a
Mauritanian patrol…as they did not recognise his convoy,” Communications
Minister Hamdi Ould Mahjoub said on national television.
did not give further details and it was not immediately clear why the military
convoy opened fire on the convoy.
“On his way back to Nouakchott, the presidential convoy was shot by a
Mauritanian patrol…as they did not recognise his convoy,” Communications
Minister Hamdi Ould Mahjoub said on national television.
“The
president was shot on that occasion, but he is lightly wounded and his life is
not threatened,” he said.
Word of Abdel Aziz’s shooting triggered talk across Nouakchott that he had been
targeted by Islamists.
president was shot on that occasion, but he is lightly wounded and his life is
not threatened,” he said.
Word of Abdel Aziz’s shooting triggered talk across Nouakchott that he had been
targeted by Islamists.
Abdel
Aziz was elected in 2009 after coming to power in a 2008 coup and he is now
seen by Western nations, including France, as a key ally in tackling al-Qaeda
in the region.
Aziz was elected in 2009 after coming to power in a 2008 coup and he is now
seen by Western nations, including France, as a key ally in tackling al-Qaeda
in the region.
Security
forces blocked roads leading to the military hospital, but security did not
appear to be heightened around the presidential palace or other official
buildings, according to a Reuters witness.
forces blocked roads leading to the military hospital, but security did not
appear to be heightened around the presidential palace or other official
buildings, according to a Reuters witness.
Mauritania
launched numerous military operations on Islamist bases in neighboring Mali
before a rebellion in that country split it in two, placing its vast desert in
the hands of heavily-armed groups linked to al-Qaeda.
launched numerous military operations on Islamist bases in neighboring Mali
before a rebellion in that country split it in two, placing its vast desert in
the hands of heavily-armed groups linked to al-Qaeda.
Mauritania,
which straddles black and Arab Africa on the West coast of the continent, has enjoyed
several years of relative political stability. Abdel Aziz has faced some
protests over
complaints ranging from corruption to his poor handling of a recent food
crisis.
Abdel Aziz was elected in 2009 after leading a coup against previous President,
Sidi Cheikh Abdallahi
which straddles black and Arab Africa on the West coast of the continent, has enjoyed
several years of relative political stability. Abdel Aziz has faced some
protests over
complaints ranging from corruption to his poor handling of a recent food
crisis.
Abdel Aziz was elected in 2009 after leading a coup against previous President,
Sidi Cheikh Abdallahi
Agency
report
report
