Mauritania abolishes it's Senate after president calls it ''useless and costly'

Mauritania has abolished it's Senate.It was one of the decisions made by voters in a referendum conducted at the weekend.

President Abdel Aziz, who last week described the senate as “useless and too costly,” has said the move to abolish the governing body would improve governance by introducing more local forms of lawmaking.


The result is seen as a victory for President  Aziz, who is accused by his rivals of trying to extend his mandate, which he denies.
He called the referendum after the Senate rejected his proposals to change the constitution.
Turnout was 53.73%, with 85% of voters supporting the change, officials said.



President Aziz came to power in a coup in 2008 and was elected in 2009 and again in 2014 for a second five-year term.