The date of the presidential elections is scheduled for June 29

The first round of presidential elections in Mauritania will be held on June 29, with a possible second round on July 14, according to a presidential decree published on Saturday.

Outgoing President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, 67, who has been in charge since 2019 of this huge key country between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, a pillar of stability in the Sahel in the face of jihadist expansion, should be a heavy favorite on the ballot.

He has not yet announced his candidacy, but observers have no doubts.

After the economic slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic and then the war in Ukraine, Ghazouani made the fight against poverty one of his priorities.

His party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections a year ago, winning 107 seats out of 176, far ahead of the Islamist Tewassoul party which won 11 seats.

Seven personalities among the opponents have so far said that they will participate in the elections.

Prominent anti-slavery activist and opponent Biram Dah Abeid, runner-up in the last presidential election, has also said he intends to run.

According to the provisions of the decree, the election campaign will begin on Friday, June 14 at midnight, and end on Thursday, June 27 at midnight.

The regulation specifies that voting will begin at 7:00 a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m.