The partial election for the renewal of a third of the Senate kicked off on Sunday in 13 provinces of Mauritania under the supervision of the Administrative Commission of the Interior Ministry.
A total of 18 seats out of the 56 will be renewed. According to observers, the ruling Republican Union (UPR) is the favorite with its
campaign having rallied strong support behind it.
In the capital Nouakchott, the election was held in the populous constituency of Dar Naim, where the ruling party was set to present a common
list with the Tewassoul Party formed by moderate Islamists. The list was intended to face the rival the Assembly of Democratic Forces led by Ould Daddah and the FNDD, the former coalition against the 2008 Aug. 6 coup d'etat. The coalition is now led by the National Assembly speaker, Messaoud Ould Boulkheir.
In the eastern part of the country, independent candidates and the opposition have mentioned irregularities, especially the pressure put on municipal workers to vote for the ruling party.
In Bassiknou, more than 1,500 km east of Nouakchott on the border with Mali, security was beefed up because of the fear of disputes by the
opposition and the independents over the election results due to be published.