Mauritanian parliamentarian Ahmed Ould Imbaleh has criticized the new government program presented by Prime Minister Moktar Ould Acha, stating that it merely rehashes old promises without providing a clear evaluation of previous accomplishments. Ould Imbaleh, speaking on behalf of the parliamentary group of the National Rally for Reform and Development party, noted that a comparison of the 2024 government program and the recent policy statement reveals a repetition of commitments and themes.
Ould Imbaleh expressed concerns about the government's approach to the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts, stating that while promises to enhance governance and transparency are repeated, tangible results are lacking. He questioned the effectiveness of these efforts, asking about the concrete outcomes, the amount of recovered funds, and the number of files that have led to actual accountability.
In the economic and infrastructure sectors, Ould Imbaleh noted that the government has reiterated its commitment to developing infrastructure, improving the investment climate, and promoting growth. However, he pointed out that the reality on the ground shows stalled projects, inadequate services, and significant challenges in the water, electricity, and transportation sectors.
The parliamentarian also highlighted the need for improvement in education, healthcare, and youth employment, citing the lack of information on the state of public universities, the quality of education, and the contribution of scientific research. He emphasized that the goal of training 115,000 young people is important but requires clarification on the actual number of beneficiaries, the type of specializations offered, and their relevance to labor market needs.
Ould Imbaleh expressed concern about Mauritania's continued reliance on imported rice and the inability to meet the country's basic needs for vegetables and fruits, indicating a failure in the agricultural sector. He also questioned the effective use of the country's natural resources, citing a report by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative as evidence of corruption in the mining sector.
The parliamentarian highlighted the challenges facing the fishing sector, including overfishing, weak maritime and environmental regulation, and limited local value-added production. He called for a comprehensive approach to addressing these issues and promoting sustainable development.
Ould Imbaleh concluded by emphasizing the need for a genuine commitment to decentralization, local development, and national unity, based on fairness, dialogue, and redress. He stressed that the repeated promises between 2024 and 2026 programs raise fundamental questions about the government's policy continuity and its ability to achieve its goals.
Key points
- The Mauritanian government faces criticism for its new program being too similar to previous ones.
- The opposition politician questions the effectiveness of government's anti-corruption efforts.
- The parliamentarian calls for a comprehensive approach to address challenges in various sectors.
