NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania
Local municipality councilors in Nouakchott elected a female mayor, in the first time for a woman to lead such top local post in Mauritania.
Maty Mint Hamadi, 47, also the Minister of Public Services, received 25 out of 37 votes by members of Nouakchott's local authority board, against contender Al-Hassan Mohamed.
"I will work to change the face of Nouakchott," Hamadi said in a brief acceptance speech on Tuesday evening, "and to facilitate the lives of its residents, especially the poor as well as women and youth."
Hamadi's win came after ruling Union for the Republic Party struck a deal with the opposition People's Progressive Alliance party, under which the latter would back Hamadi in the local elections.
Nouakchott is Mauritania's largest city, with a population of nearly 3.5 million, according to latest estimates.
By Sidi Ould Abdel-Malek
englishnews@aa.com.tr
