Politics · Other · 1 day ago
Mauritania's prime minister reappointed after resigning over power outages
Mauritania's Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Cheikh resigned after an independent commission examined fires at two electricity substations in Nouakchott, the capital.
The fires broke out on 21 and 22 August, less than a day apart.
They caused power cuts in Nouakchott and nearby towns that lasted three to five days.
The commission said electrical connectors that failed to meet technical standards most likely overheated and caused the fires.
It blamed a private company that imported the connectors and officials at the Energy Ministry, while ruling out sabotage and operational error as likely causes.
Hours after the resignation, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani reappointed the prime minister and asked him to form a new government.
The reappointment means Ould Cheikh will remain in office as the government is formed.
Mauritania’s prime minister was reappointed hours after resigning over a report on fires at two electricity substations in Nouakchott.
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani tasked Mohamed Ould Cheikh with forming a new government.
The fires broke out on 21 and 22 August at substations belonging to the Mauritanian Electricity Company.
Power outages affected Nouakchott and nearby towns for three to five days.
An independent commission attributed the fires to substandard electrical connectors and held a private company and Energy Ministry officials responsible.
- Who
- Mohamed Ould Cheikh was reappointed as prime minister by President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.
- What
- He resigned over a report on substation fires and was reappointed hours later.
- When
- Friday; the fires occurred on 21 and 22 August.
- Where
- Mauritania, with the fires at substations in Nouakchott and its suburbs.
- Why
- The resignation followed a report that identified serious shortcomings and held a private company and Energy Ministry officials responsible for the fires.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
serious shortcomings regarding prevention, electrical protection, work supervision, and emergency management
A fire broke out at a transformer substation belonging to the Mauritanian Electricity Company in Nouakchott and its suburbs.
A second substation fire broke out less than 24 hours after the first.
Power outages affected Nouakchott and the towns of Ouad Naga, Idini and Aouleigat for three to five days.
Mohamed Ould Cheikh resigned over the report and was reappointed hours later.
- Fires
- 21 and 22 August
- Affected company
- Mauritanian Electricity Company (Somelec)
- Outage duration
- Three to five days
- Affected towns
- Ouad Naga, Idini and Aouleigat
- Reappointed prime minister
- Mohamed Ould Cheikh
- Commission’s likely cause
- Overheating from electrical connectors that did not meet required technical standards
Sources
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