afrol News, 1 September - Mauritania's junta-appointed prime minister has named a 28-member cabinet, retaining the four key ministers of defence, economy, finance and justice of the elected ousted regime of president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.

President Abdallahi, 70, Mauritania's first democratically elected leader in 40 years, was overthrown by renegade military officials led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on 6 August, and has since remained under house arrest.

Most of the 28 cabinet members - 23 ministers and 5 secretaries of state - come from political parties that rallied behind the coup.

The three of the appointed ministers were members of the opposition Rally of Democratic Forces whose leadership have got an axe to grind with the junta over its failure to disclose the length of the transition. RFD asked their appointed officials to automatically resign from the government.

In a statement, the junta said prime minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf effected the appointments on Sunday. Mr. Laghdaf was a former Mauritanian ambassador to Belgium.

Mauritanian coup has been received with sharp criticisms and condemnations by the international community, with some organisations threatening to impose sanctions on the Islamic state.
Already, the country has been suspended by both the African Union and the Francophonie over its failure to restore constitutional democratic rule.


While the World Bank had announced to suspend aid worth €120 million, France, European Union and the United States vowed to cut non-humanitarian aid to the country.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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