RATIONAL CHOICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS IN MAURITANIA: MOHAMED OULD ABDEL AZIZ’S STRATEGY AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POLITICAL TRANSFER OF POWER
RATIONAL CHOICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS IN MAURITANIA: MOHAMED OULD ABDEL AZIZ’S STRATEGY AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POLITICAL TRANSFER OF POWER

Summary/Abstract: 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. This move could have had negative consequences for the socio-political stability of the state. Therefore, the objectives of this paper aim to explore, on the 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 transfer political power peacefully. The second part utilizes an interpretative analysis of reports from organizations such as Freedom House, the Arab Barometer, Afrobarometer, and V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) to assess the socio-political context resulting from the period 2019-2023. Additionally, this study employs a 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.

• Details
• Contents