The recently imprisoned politician  has emerged as the key figure in the senators’ resistance to President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz’s August 2017 constitutional change abolishing the senate. Just before his arrest he  launched an official probe into contracts awarded by the government without going through competitive tenders. He could be a serious opposition challenger to Abdel Aziz if, as expected, he changes the rules and stands for a third term in 2019.  Because he is Arab (Beidane), Ould Ghadda could attract votes of the Arab electorate, which  has so far supported the government and would not vote for the anti-slavery campaigner and presidential contender Biram Dah Abeid.

Tunisia: Bochra Belhaj Hmida - Champion of women

Brilliant lawyer Bochra Belhaj Hmida, 62, has devoted her career to Tunisia’s women. In August 2017, President  Béji Caid Essebsi appointed her to head  La Commission des Libertés Individuelles et de l’Egalité, a new human rights commission, to study and make proposals on topics such as inheritance rights. She is fiercely independent and entered into politics after the downfall of president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali  in 2011. She initially joined Ettakatol but criticised it for not respecting  its promises. She then joined Essebsi’s Nidaa Tounes in 2012 and was elected to parliament in 2014. She has since distanced herself from the party leadership and uses her media access to promote the rights of women.