A New President, Same Challenges: Mauritania and Its Path Forward

This study examines the unprecedented moment in Mauritanian history represented by the peaceful transfer of political power between former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and his successor, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, in 2019. The significance of this moment is characterized by the former president's refusal to pursue constitutional amendments to secure a third term, a move that could have had negative consequences for the socio-political stability of the state. Therefore, the objectives of this paper aim to explore, on one hand, the motivations behind President Aziz's decision to abide by constitutional provisions and, on the other hand, the resulting socio-political consequences. Structured in two parts, this paper uses the 2019 elections as a reference point for achieving the proposed objectives. The first part employs a rational choice approach, considering the costs and benefits that led the former president to peacefully transfer political power. The second part utilizes an interpretative analysis of reports from organizations such as Freedom House, the Arab Barometer, and V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) to assess the socio-political context resulting from the period 2019-2023. Additionally, this study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of election data with qualitative analysis of political discourse and media coverage. Finally, the findings suggest the establishment of a precedent that, if followed, could bring significant benefits to the country's political stability and social development.