Mauritanian Defense Minister Mohamed Ould El Ghazouani announced his candidacy for the June presidential elections, so the ruling party has decided who will succeed President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
"All of you must make the necessary effort to make these elections a complete success to enable me to carry out the ambitious program," said the retired general who is very close to the current president, who is barred from running for a third term, addressing thousands at the Nouakchott stadium in the capital.
The defense minister, who enjoys widespread support from the ruling majority, said he would seek to reform education, fortify national unity, achieve a development renaissance, take care of youth, promote democracy and maintain the country's security.
Born in 1956 in Boumediade (central South), Mohamed Ould El Ghazouani is descended from a Sufi family and his father was a sheikh of a Sufi path.
He joined the army in 1978 and was a close associate of Abdul Aziz and participated in the 2005 and 2008 coup. He served as Chief of Staff from 2008 until he entered the government in November 2018.
Ould Abdel Aziz, a former general who came to power in a coup in 2008 and was elected in 2009 and 2014, ends his second term in August 2019. He has repeatedly denied opposition charges of seeking a third term, but said he would continue to work in politics after the end of his term.
Ould Ghazouani, led by Mauritania, is widely expected to win the first round of the June elections, while the opposition is still pursuing consultations to select one candidate.