Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Djay has said corruption remains one of the main challenges facing Mauritania, describing it as the most dangerous scourge holding the country back, despite what he said was progress in fighting it at the legislative and institutional levels.
Replying to MPs' interventions, Ould Djay said some of the campaigns raised about corruption were driven by parties harmed by anti-corruption measures.
On fuel, the prime minister defended the award of the country's supply contract to the company "Addax", explaining that it had submitted the lowest bid, competing with major international companies, and that the companies that did not win the contract had filed no formal complaints.
He also gave details on fuel prices, saying that the cost of a litre of diesel on arrival in the country in November is 875.5 old ouguiyas, including taxes estimated at 267.3 ouguiyas, while it is sold to consumers at 621 ouguiyas after the government subsidy.
He added that what citizens actually pay in taxes on each litre does not exceed 12.6 old ouguiyas.
