Mauritania’s president dissolved the National Assembly on Monday and announced parliamentary, regional and local elections for May 13, the Interior Minister said.
The parliamentary term was meant to end in August but an agreement was struck to hold early elections to avoid the rainy season, when some regions can become difficult to access.
The Minister of Interior Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine announced this after a special meeting of the Council of Ministers.
The number of parliamentarians will increase from 157 to 176, according to the media.
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani has good numbers in the now-dissolved assembly, where the opposition is divided.
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Former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is currently on trial, along with two former prime ministers and a number of ministers and businessmen, for alleged abuse of power and cumulate huge fortunes.
The trial will resume on March 20, prosecutor told AFP.
