Seydina Aly Ould Mohamed Khouna, former Minister of Public Service, Labour & Administrative Modernisation under former President of Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who was arrested on May 18, 2025 under unclear circumstances was on May 26, 2025, released by the Nouakchott Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The former Minister was held in detention until May 26 when he was brought before the investigating judge of the anti-terrorism unit.
The judge accused him of inciting violence against state authority, undermining national sovereignty and state symbols, as well as spreading false information and slander against senior government officials. He was, however, released on the same day, but placed under judicial supervision.
Publicly speaking for the first time after his release, Seydina Khouna confirmed that his arrest was related to his commentary about the verdict handed down against former President Abdel Aziz, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) welcomes the release of Seydina Khouna and calls on the Mauritanian authorities to drop all charges against the political figure and respect the right to expression.