Mauritania’s PM, cabinet resign following electricity crisis

Mauritania’s Prime Minister, Mokhtar Ould Djay, has submitted his government’s resignation following an investigation into electricity facility fires that caused widespread power outages.

According to PUNCH, citing AFP, Djay tendered his resignation on Friday during a meeting with President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani at the presidential palace in Nouakchott.

The resignation followed an independent commission’s report identifying “serious shortcomings regarding prevention, electrical protection, work supervision and emergency management”.

The fires occurred on August 21 and 22 at substations operated by the Mauritanian Electricity Company, Somelec, disrupting electricity supplies across Nouakchott and surrounding towns.

Affected communities, including Ouad Naga, Idini and Aouleigat, experienced power outages lasting between three and five days.

Investigators identified overheating as the likely cause of the fires, ruling out sabotage and operational errors.

The commission also linked the failures to three newly installed power lines.

Somelec restored electricity after approximately five days of repairs.

Djay, appointed in August 2024, had served as prime minister for over two years.