A heated exchange has erupted between Mauritanian intellectual Mohamed Mokhtar Al-Shanqiti and former Director of State Security, Daddahi Ould Abdallah, reigniting a decades-old dispute. The controversy stems from Al-Shanqiti’s recent appearance on the ‘African Stories’ program on Atheer, a platform affiliated with Al Jazeera.
During the interview, Al-Shanqiti recounted his 2002 arrest by Mauritanian security forces, a memory triggered by questions from journalist Ahmed Val Ould Eddin. The incident occurred shortly after Al-Shanqiti’s return from the United States, following a strong critique of the Mauritanian government’s decision to establish relations with Israel on Al Jazeera’s ‘The Opposite Direction’ program. His comments resonated deeply within Mauritania.
According to Al-Shanqiti, he was apprehended by police officers in the village of Jreiff, where he was vacationing. He was then transported to Nema, the capital of the Hodh Ech Chargui region, and subsequently to Nouakchott, the nation’s capital. There, he was interrogated multiple times by Daddahi Ould Abdallah, then the Director of State Security.
At the time, Al-Shanqiti was viewed by official and semi-official media outlets as a vocal political opponent. The 2002 arrest and subsequent interrogation marked a significant moment in Mauritanian contemporary history, highlighting the tensions between intellectual dissent and state security apparatus.
The recent revival of this conflict underscores the enduring impact of past events on present-day political discourse in Mauritania. The confrontation between Al-Shanqiti and Ould Abdallah offers insight into the complexities of Mauritania’s political landscape and the ongoing debate surrounding freedom of expression and government policy.
