Lawyer for Mauritania's ex-president fears unfair trial

A lawyer for Mauritania's ex-president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, said Saturday his client might not get a fair hearing in his forthcoming corruption trial because of a "torrent of rights violations".

Just days ahead of the trial's opening, lawyer Cire Cledor Ly said the defence had still not had access to the full case file.

His client has had to endure "a cascade of violations of his rights at every level of the case," he told journalists.

"In reality, what they want is to humiliate him, to break him," which does not bode well for a fair trial, he added.

Abdel Aziz, who came to power in a coup in 2008, stepped down in 2019 after two presidential terms and was succeeded by a former general, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

He and 11 other figures from his former regime have been charged with corruption, money laundering and illicit enrichment, dating from his time in power. Their trial is due to start on January 25.

Abdel Aziz has insisted he is the victim of score-settling by rivals and his lawyers argue that in any case he has immunity from prosecution under the constitution.

Charged in March 2021, the former leader spent several months in custody before being released for health reasons. Earlier this month he was stopped at the airport when trying to take a flight abroad.

His fellow defendants include two former prime ministers and several former ministers from his time in power, together with a number of businessmen.