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Mauritanians are voting for the first time since the country gained independence from France in 1960.
- Citizens headed to the polls on Saturday to choose a successor President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz.
The 62-year-old is standing down after serving the maximum two five-year elected terms.
However the status quo is likely to prevail when a new leader is elected.
Abdel Aziz has expressed his support for Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who is a former general and defense minister.