Ali Ould Bakar

The Case of Environmental Activist Ali Ould Bakar

Ali Ould Bakar is a prominent Mauritanian civil activist and blogger specializing in marine environmental monitoring. He is widely known for his meticulous tracking of fish wealth in Mauritanian territorial waters, relying on radar data and information issued by international regulatory bodies for his reports.

Arrest and Legal Context

Date of Arrest: He was detained by the National Gendarmerie at the artisanal fishing port in Nouadhibou on the evening of July 22, 2025.
Immediate Cause: The arrest followed social media posts in which he criticized environmental policies and accused foreign vessels (including a Senegalese ship) of violating Mauritanian laws by entering prohibited zones after disabling their tracking devices to conceal their locations.
Official Charges: The public prosecution charged him with "manipulation of information" and "damaging the state's interests and tarnishing its image among foreign partners".
Government Narrative: The government spokesperson explained that the detention followed a complaint by the Coast Guard, asserting that the information published by the activist was "purely false news" that was not supported by evidence upon verification.

Developments During Detention

Prison Conditions: His treatment while in custody sparked significant controversy; his lawyers and family reported that he was subjected to humiliation, including being forcibly shaved and stripped of his clothing. In contrast, the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture described his prison conditions as "normal," claiming that shaving the head is a "routine procedure" used in prison to combat lice.
Financial Demands: The Mauritanian state, acting as a civil party, filed a claim for 1 billion Ouguiya in compensation for alleged damages.
Political Solidarity: Several opposition parties (such as Tawassoul, RFD, and Sawab) condemned the arrest, characterizing it as an "arbitrary measure" intended to silence activists who expose corruption in the fisheries sector.

Outcomes and Release

Appeals Court Decision: The Indictment Chamber of the Court of Appeal initially granted him temporary release conditioned on a bail of 4.92 million old Ouguiya, a condition his family rejected, viewing it as an "admission of guilt".
Supreme Court Ruling: In mid-September 2025, the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court issued a decision confirming his release and canceling the bail requirement.
Actual Release: The activist was released on September 18, 2025, after approximately two months of pretrial detention

The case of Ali Ould Bakar concluded with his release by the Supreme Court, but it left behind lingering questions regarding "authoritarian overreach" and the use of publication and cybercrime laws to prosecute those defending natural resources