Mauritania minister's niece withdraws from Morocco study place amid controversy

Zahra Al-Tayeb Amin, niece of the Minister of Higher Education Yacoub Ould Meïne, has withdrawn her enrollment for doctoral studies in Morocco. The decision follows a public dispute with classmate Belkis Abdallahi El Adel, who claimed she was more qualified for the opportunity. The controversy centers on the selection process for a study place in Morocco, with El Adel asserting she was first in their master's promotion and Amin second.

Amin stated that the faculty had not published an official ranking among the three eligible students and that the opportunity was an enrollment place, not a scholarship as initially claimed. She also noted administrative hurdles due to her new training role within the Ministry of Social Action, Childhood, and Family. Amin announced she would pursue a scholarship offer from Utah State University in the United States instead.

El Adel rejected Amin's explanations, insisting her objection was about selection criteria, not a personal dispute. She pointed to an official university list ranking candidates by merit, contradicting Amin's claims. El Adel also criticized the lack of a public call for applications and clear selection criteria, noting that other students had not received similar opportunities in recent years.

Why it mattersStudents seeking doctoral study opportunities in Morocco are affected by opaque selection processes.

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