Mauritania's national dialogue debates restoring the Senate
Participants are weighing whether to bring back the upper house that Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz abolished after it refused to back his plans.
Mauritania's national dialogue is debating institutional changes, including the possible restoration of the Senate. The upper chamber was abolished under President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who ended it after it refused to validate his political and economic projects. The suppression was confirmed by the 2017 referendum, but a return is not an announced decision and remains open for discussion.
The strongest argument for a second chamber, according to the commentary, is a gap in representation: since 2018 elected regional councils have had no voice in drafting national laws they must then apply. A Senate representing territories rather than only citizens could close that gap. The article says the balance of power would depend on the chamber's exact powers, since one too weak would be useless and one too strong could paralyse the executive.
The dialogue also reopens the debate on term limits. The constitution sets a five-year mandate renewable once, and some currents want that limit revised so a president judged competent could continue beyond 10 years. A move to seven-year terms is part of public debate, but the sources do not report a precise project for it, so it is not presented as a likely outcome.
Why it mattersElected regional councils have had no role in drafting national laws since 2018, and a restored Senate would give territories a voice in that process.