Ahmed Sidy Mohamed Abdaw, a key suspect in Mauritania's high-profile "extortion file," has provided detailed testimony to investigators. Abdaw's statements reveal his involvement in various extortion schemes, including those targeting a senior customs official and a prominent businessman. According to Abdaw, he acted as an intermediary in these cases, receiving significant sums of money from the victims.
Abdaw's testimony indicates that he received over 16 million ouguiya in total from various sources between January and September 2026. One of the earliest transfers to his account was 300,000 ouguiya on January 21, 2026, while the last was also 300,000 ouguiya on September 18, 2026. He claimed that some of these funds came from Sheikhani Ould Sheikh, who allegedly paid 5.8 million ouguiya to settle a debt.
Abdaw detailed an extortion case involving the director of the "Nice Cola" factory, who was falsely accused of selling expired products. The victim ultimately paid 1 million ouguiya, with Abdaw keeping 250,000 ouguiya and transferring 750,000 ouguiya to Sidi Mohamed Akamash, another suspect in the case. Abdaw also mentioned that he received 2.75 million ouguiya from Sadadine Sidi Ahmed Ameis, which was part of an extortion scheme targeting a businessman named Yesselm Ould Aghrebt.
Abdaw's testimony also implicated other individuals, including Al-Hafedh Ould Loubed and Dhiaa Al-Haq, who are also suspects in the case. He claimed that Ould Loubed received 2 million ouguiya from the funds and that he had transferred 1.5 million ouguiya to Ould Loubed's account while in Morocco. Abdaw also mentioned that he had provided information to Akamash and Ould Loubed, including military and security-related data, which he obtained through his connections in the military and security sectors.
Investigators have focused on identifying the sources of Akamash's information, particularly regarding military and security matters. Abdaw admitted to sending such information to Akamash and Ould Loubed, claiming that his intention was to correct inaccuracies in their published reports. The information included details about a military graduation ceremony and a medical equipment procurement deal.
Abdaw's testimony also touched on his attempts to mediate on behalf of others, including a businessman named Yesselm Ould Abili, who sought to obtain a mining license. Abdaw claimed that Akamash had a close relationship with certain individuals in Tiris Zemmour who were involved in drug trafficking.
Key points from Abdaw's testimony include his involvement in multiple extortion schemes, his receipt of over 16 million ouguiya from various sources, and his provision of military and security information to other suspects.
Key points
- Ahmed Sidy Mohamed Abdaw's testimony has provided significant insights into the workings of the extortion ring and has implicated several high-profile individuals.
- The investigation has resulted in the placement of several suspects under judicial supervision and the issuance of an arrest warrant for one individual.
- The case highlights the widespread nature of extortion and corruption in Mauritania, with authorities vowing to continue their efforts to combat these crimes.
