Retired Major General Lebatt Ould Maayouf and executive member of the opposition party “Mauritanie en Avant”, was arrested on August 26, 2026, by officers of the Cybercrime Unit for criticising the government.
Police officers from the Cybercrime Unit arrested Ould Maayouf at his residence in Nouakchott after he was summoned by the Cybercrime Unit following a series of social media posts he made that criticised the country’s leadership and the handling of a severe electricity crisis that affected the capital in August. The crisis plunged six of the capital’s nine municipalities into darkness for several days. His summon is reportedly linked to his participation in a television programme dated June 2025.
In a Facebook post, Ould Maayouf described the situation as a sign of “poor governance” and referred to a “climate of an end of rule.”
Ould Maayouf’s arrest has triggered reactions within Mauritanian political circles, particularly among opposition groups, which have denounced the arrest as politically motivated. In a statement issued on the day of the arrest, “Mauritanie en Avant” denounced the arrest as a “dangerous escalation” and called for his release.
The arrest comes about two month after a violent clash between some opposition leaders and police officers outside the premises of the Nouakchott-West Court. The two incidents come at a time when Mauritania is seeking to advance a national political dialogue aimed at addressing political, economic and social concerns and strengthening consensus among the country’s political actors.
However, that has failed to start for over a year now due to disagreements among political parties over its scope, conditions and the participation of opposition actors.
The detention of a senior opposition figure over critical comments about the authorities and the management of a public crisis raises further concerns about the space available for political debate and the ability of opposition voices to express criticism without facing punitive measures.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) condemns the arrest and detention of retired Major General Lebatt Ould Maayouf and considers his apprehension over his political opinions a serious infringement on his right to freedom of expression.
The MFWA calls on the immediate release Major General Lebatt Ould Maayouf.
