Bangladesh, Dec. 20 -- The late-night arrest of prominent Mauritanian anti-corruption activist Mohamed Ould Ghadda has triggered widespread condemnation from opposition leaders, civil society organizations, and transparency advocates, reigniting concerns about the states commitment to accountability and the rule of law. Ghaddas detention, which came just hours after he publicly challenged prosecutors over a dismissed corruption case, has become a flashpoint in an increasingly tense struggle between whistleblowers and a political system critics say shields powerful interests from scrutiny.

Mohamed Ould Ghadda, a former senator and president of the Organization for Inclusive Transparency (OTI), was arrested at his home in Nouakchott just b...