The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) condemns the jailing of political activist Sidi Mohamed Ould Bedki and calls for his immediate release. Ould Bedki, president of the “Loyauté à la Patrie” (Loyalty to the Fatherland) movement, was sentenced by the criminal division of the Nouakchott-West court on March 13, 2025, to one year in prison, six months of which were suspended, and fined one million old ouguiyas (approximately USD 2,500).
His arrest and sentencing stem from a protest letter he addressed to the Ministry of the Interior on January 29, 2025, in which he requested permission to organise a symbolic sit-in for the “release” of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani. The letter, widely circulated on social media, was interpreted by authorities as an insult to the President of the Republic. Ould Bedki was arrested the same day by security forces.
On February 5, an investigating judge from the West Nouakchott court ordered his remand. The public prosecutor charged him with “insulting the President of the Republic through social media,” citing Mauritania’s controversial Law on the Protection of National Symbols—a law often criticised for its vague wording and repressive application.
The sentencing of Ould Bedki, following the January arrest of political commentator Ahmed Ould Samba for criticising the government, raises serious concerns about the shrinking space for dissent in Mauritania. These developments send a worrying message to citizens and political actors alike, undermining the country’s democratic principles.
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of any democracy and should not be subordinated to expansive interpretations of vaguely defined laws. The MFWA urges the Mauritanian authorities to reverse Ould Bedki’s conviction and to uphold the rights to free expression and political opinion. Only in a climate of pluralism, tolerance, and respect for fundamental freedoms can Mauritanian democracy thrive.
