Court Begins Trial of Mauritania’s Former President

A court in Mauritania has begun hearing the corruption trial of a former president Mohamed Aziz.

Aziz is accused of amassing a fortune of more than $70m during his time in office.

His lawyers said he rejected the accusations against him and that his arrest at home on the eve of the trial amounted to kidnapping.

The former leader stepped down in 2019, and has accused his successor Mohamed Ghazouani of turning the legal system against him.