Mauritanian President Rules Out Running For Third Term

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st November, 2018) Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said Wednesday that he would not run for a third term in the next presidential election in Mauritania because it is contrary to the country's constitution.

"No, I will not run for office ... The Constitution says that I cannot run as a candidate for more than two terms," Abdel Aziz said in an interview to the RFI radio station.

He also added that he would run for president only when the constitution will allow him to do so.

The president stressed that he would stay in Mauritania and continue to be engaged in politics.

Abdel Aziz took the office in 2009. A career soldier and ranking official in the past, he came to power as a result of a coup in 2008. He also served as the chairman of the African Union between 2014 and 2015.

The next presidential election in Mauritania will take place in summer 2019.