Dakar, 28 June 2024 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, arrived today in Nouakchott, Mauritania, for a three-day visit. The visit is part of the United Nations' ongoing commitment to promoting peaceful elections in the sub-region.

On the eve of the presidential election, the Special Representative calls on all candidates, their militants and all stakeholders to work to preserve a peaceful environment so that Mauritanian citizens can exercise their right to vote in a peaceful and participatory manner this Saturday, June 29.

The Special Representative encourages Mauritanians to seize this opportunity to contribute, through their vote, to the consolidation of the country's democratic gains. He calls on all candidates to resolve any potential disputes related to the electoral process through established legal and constitutional channels.

The Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel reiterates the United Nations' support for the holding of peaceful elections.