Mauritania power outages have triggered political fallout after the country’s prime minister resigned following an investigation into electricity substation fires, only to be reappointed hours later.
The prime minister was asked on Friday to form a new government after submitting his resignation amid growing scrutiny of failures in the country’s electricity infrastructure.
The decision followed the release of an independent commission’s report identifying serious technical and management shortcomings linked to fires at two major power facilities.
According to Africanews, the incidents disrupted electricity supplies across the capital, Nouakchott, and several surrounding towns.
Power outages affect Mauritania’s capital
The fires occurred on August 21 and 22 at transformer substations operated by the Mauritanian Electricity Company, known as Somelec.
Both facilities serve Nouakchott and nearby communities.
The incidents caused widespread electricity outages lasting between three and five days in some affected areas.
Residents and businesses in the capital faced disruptions, while the towns of Ouad Naga, Idini and Aouleigat also experienced prolonged power cuts.
The outages raised concerns about the reliability of Mauritania’s electricity network and the management of essential infrastructure.
Investigation identifies technical failures
An independent commission established to investigate the fires identified several failures in the electricity system.
Its report highlighted weaknesses in preventive measures, electrical protection, supervision of technical work and emergency response procedures.
Investigators found that electrical connectors used in newly installed power lines failed to meet required technical standards.
A private company had imported the equipment, according to the commission.
The investigation linked the problems to three recently installed electricity lines and identified overheating as the most likely cause of the fires.
The commission considered sabotage and operational error less likely explanations.
Energy officials face responsibility
The investigation held the electricity company and officials at Mauritania’s Energy Ministry responsible for the failures that contributed to the incidents.
Its findings raised questions about equipment procurement, technical inspections and oversight of electricity infrastructure projects.
The report also highlighted the importance of ensuring that imported electrical components meet safety standards before installation.
The findings prompted political consequences, including the prime minister’s resignation.
However, President Ghazouani subsequently decided to retain him in office and instructed him to establish a new cabinet.
President orders formation of new government
Following the resignation, President Ghazouani met with the prime minister on Friday and asked him to form a new government.
The reappointment came only hours after the resignation, allowing the administration to continue under the same leadership.
The decision follows public concern over the prolonged electricity disruptions and the findings of the independent investigation.
The composition of the new government and any possible changes to energy sector leadership were not immediately detailed in the report.
Mauritania now faces questions over how authorities will address the identified shortcomings and prevent similar failures in the future.