Mauritania’s Prime Minister, Mokhtar Ould Djay, has submitted the resignation of his government following an investigation into two fires at electricity substations that plunged large parts of the country’s capital, Nouakchott, into darkness for several days.
Ould Djay presented his government’s resignation to President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani at the presidential palace on Friday, October 9, 2026, according to the Mauritanian News Agency, the country’s state-run news outlet. The announcement came a day after the president received the findings of an independent commission investigating the incidents.
The resignation followed widespread public disruption caused by the fires, which occurred on August 21 and 22 at transformer substations operated by the Mauritanian Electricity Company, known as Somelec.
The incidents triggered extensive power outages across Nouakchott and affected nearby towns, including Ouad Naga, Idini and Aouleigat. Depending on the location, residents endured electricity interruptions lasting between three and five days.
The outages disrupted daily activities and raised concerns about the reliability of the country’s electricity infrastructure, prompting the government to establish an independent commission to investigate the causes of the fires and determine whether negligence or technical failures contributed to the crisis.
The commission’s report identified what it described as serious shortcomings in preventive measures, electrical protection systems, supervision of installation work and emergency management.
Investigators identified overheating as the most likely explanation for the fires and linked the problems to three newly installed electrical lines. However, the commission reportedly found no evidence of sabotage or operational error directly causing the incidents.
The findings raised questions about the planning, installation and oversight of electrical infrastructure projects, particularly the measures put in place to prevent major equipment failures and minimise disruption when emergencies occur.
The report was presented to President El Ghazouani on Thursday, October 8. Following the briefing, the president directed the government to take the necessary measures in line with the commission’s recommendations and ordered that the findings be published for public scrutiny.
The investigation was chaired by former finance minister Ousmane Mamoudou Kane and examined the circumstances surrounding the fires, the response by relevant authorities and measures needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The president had previously ordered an independent investigation and instructed officials to identify any individuals or institutions found responsible for negligence or other failures.
The government also mobilised technical teams and resources to restore electricity supplies to affected areas. Somelec subsequently announced that full service had been restored at the two substations after approximately five days of repair work.
Ould Djay had served as prime minister since August 2024, following his appointment at the beginning of President El Ghazouani’s second term. His resignation marks a major development for the administration as it responds to the findings of the investigation.
The resignation announcement, however, did not explicitly state that Ould Djay personally caused the power failures or that the commission had recommended his removal. The precise political implications of the government’s resignation were not immediately detailed in the official announcement.
The incident has placed renewed attention on accountability in public infrastructure management and the responsibility of governments to ensure that essential services remain reliable.
Electricity is a critical service for households, hospitals, businesses and water-supply systems. Prolonged interruptions can affect economic activity and disrupt access to essential services, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
The Mauritanian authorities now face the task of implementing the commission’s recommendations, addressing the technical shortcomings identified in the report and strengthening safeguards against future failures.
For residents who endured several days without reliable electricity, the central concern remains whether the investigation will lead to lasting improvements in the country’s power infrastructure and prevent a recurrence of similar outages.
Street News Reporters will continue to follow developments surrounding the government’s resignation and the implementation of the investigation’s recommendations.
