Mokhtar Ould Djay facts for kids

Mokhtar Ould Djay (Arabic: المختار ولد أجاي; born 28 December 1973) is a leading politician from Mauritania. He is currently serving as the Prime Minister of Mauritania since August 2, 2024. This means he is the head of the government in his country.

Before becoming Prime Minister, he held several important roles. He was a Minister of Finance and also a Minister of Economy and Finance. He also worked as the Head of the Office for President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

Early Life and Education

Mokhtar Ould Djay was born on December 28, 1973. His birthplace was Moudjéria, in the Tagant area of Mauritania. He later moved to Magta Lahjar to finish his primary and secondary schooling. In 1992, he earned his baccalauréat, which is a high school diploma, specializing in mathematics.

He continued his studies in Rabat, Morocco. In 1997, he earned a bachelor's degree in Engineering from the National Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics. From 1998 to 2003, he worked with data about jobs. He was part of a project to help people find work, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

While working, he also studied further. Between 2000 and 2002, he earned a master's degree. He studied Statistics and Econometrics through online courses from the University of Toulouse. From 2003 to 2008, he helped manage and check education and training projects. He also directed an office that studied statistics and economics.

Political Career

Mokhtar Ould Djay started his political career in 2003. He joined the Ministry of Education as an advisor. In this role, he helped with strategies and checking progress. After seven years, he was appointed Director General of Taxes in 2010. This job involved overseeing the country's tax system.

Minister of Finance and Economy

In 2015, he became the Minister of Finance. This meant he was in charge of the country's money and budget. Later, his role expanded to include the Ministry of Economics. This made him responsible for both the country's money and its overall economy.

During his time as minister, Mauritania faced economic challenges. The prices of important goods, especially iron ore, fell. This affected the country's income. Two months before his term ended, he signed an agreement with an Australian company. This agreement was for mining operations in F'Déirick. The mines belonged to the National Industrial and Mining Society [fr] (SNIM), a big national mining company.

In 2018, some people thought he might become the next president. This was because he had a close relationship with the then-president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. However, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani became the candidate instead. In September 2019, Ghazouani chose him to be the Director of SNIM. He held this important position until March 2021.

Head of the President's Office

On July 4, 2023, Mokhtar Ould Djay was appointed as the Head of the Office of the President. This is a very important role. It means he was a top advisor and manager for President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

He also played a key part in the El Insaf party's election campaigns. He helped coordinate their successful efforts in the parliamentary, regional, and local elections in Nouakchott. His party won control of all nine local areas and the regional council. This was the first time a ruling party had achieved such a complete victory in the city.

Becoming Prime Minister

On August 2, 2024, Mokhtar Ould Djay was appointed Prime Minister. President Ghazouani chose him after the previous Prime Minister, Mohamed Ould Bilal, resigned. This change happened after the 2024 Mauritanian presidential election. As Prime Minister, he now leads the government and helps the President manage the country.

Personal Life

Mokhtar Ould Djay is married and has seven children. He speaks two languages: Arabic and French.