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Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani comfortably won re-election, receiving 56.12 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidential poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said on Monday.

The victory gives the former army chief a second term as head of the country, seen as a rock of relative stability in Africa’s Sahel region.

Ghazouani placed well ahead of his main rival, anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid, who won 22.10 percent of votes in Saturday’s election, according to results announced by CENI chief Dah Ould Abdel Jelil.

Abeid said Sunday he would not recognize the results.  He says CENI is manipulated by the government.

Ghazouani’s other main rival, Hamadi Ould Sid’ El Moctar, who heads the Islamist Tewassoul party, finished third with 12.78 percent.

“We did everything we could to prepare the conditions for a good election and we were relatively successful. I congratulate everyone,” said CENI chief Jalil.