On October 9, 2026, Mauritanian Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Djay presided over a meeting of an inter-ministerial commission tasked with managing the crisis following two fires at electric transformation posts in Nouakchott-Nord and Nouakchott-Ouest on August 18 and 21, 2026. The Prime Minister commended various ministerial departments for their efforts in limiting the consequences of the incident and restoring service in a record time.
The meeting followed an audience granted by President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani to the president of the independent commission of inquiry, Ousmane Mamoudou Kane, during which the commission's report was submitted and its main conclusions and recommendations were presented. The Prime Minister praised the measures taken to restore service to the affected electric posts in a record time despite the complexity of the incident and resulting damage.
The independent commission of inquiry, led by Ousmane Mamoudou Kane, a former minister, comprised several experts and competencies. The commission submitted its final report on October 6, 2026, after obtaining a one-week extension. President Ghazouani received the commission's report and instructed the government to implement the recommendations in their entirety and with rigor.
The recommendations include taking strict administrative measures against individuals who failed to meet their obligations, pursuing judicial procedures to preserve the general interest and sanction those who contravened regulations and laws, and rehabilitating the damaged electric posts. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to take preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
The Prime Minister ordered the development of an organizational and development plan for the Mauritanian Electricity Company (SOMELEC) to equip it with the necessary capacities to ensure quality service and effective management of investment projects. President Ghazouani also ordered the government to make the report available to the national public opinion in the interest of transparency.
The Prime Minister thanked and congratulated the president and members of the independent commission for their professional work. The commission's president, Ousmane Mamoudou Kane, highlighted the confidence placed in the commission by President Ghazouani and emphasized that the investigation was conducted independently and transparently, without external influence or interference.
The inter-ministerial commission listened to a presentation by Kane on the commission's work and investigation results, which provided answers to all questions raised. The Prime Minister ordered the implementation of the recommendations, their transmission to concerned departments, and the development of an action plan for their execution.
Key points
- President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani has instructed the government to implement recommendations from a commission investigating two electric post fires in Nouakchott.
- The recommendations include taking administrative measures, pursuing judicial procedures, and rehabilitating damaged electric posts.
- The government aims to prevent similar incidents and improve the management of the Mauritanian Electricity Company (SOMELEC).
