MAURITANIAN - BURKINABE RELATIONS WARMING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000321 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN - BURKINABE RELATIONS WARMING Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) -------------- (C) Key Points -------------- -- Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore's visit to Nouakchott March 16-17 and Colonel Fal's trip to Ouagadougou last December represents a warming in Mauritanian-Burkinabe relations. -- These relations were strained under former President Taya, who believed that Burkina Faso -- along with Libya -- was trying to destabilize his regime. -- Compaore's visit last week, and the current visit of Gambia's President El Hadj Yahaya AJJ Jammeh, brings to four the total number of West African heads of state to visit Mauritania since the August 3 coup d'etat. -------------- (C) Comments -------------- -- The continued head-of-state visits from neighboring West African nations indicate a significant warming in Mauritania's relations with its sub-Saharan neighbors. -- Under the former government, in power for 21 years, Mauritania moved closer to its Arab partners and away from its sub-Saharan neighbors. A more balanced set of relationships may be in the offing, although that is far from certain. There are reports that bilateral visits with Tunisia and Algeria will occur in the next month or so. End Key Points and Comments. ¶1. (U) Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore arrived in Nouakchott March 16 for a two day "friendship and working" visit. Compaore, who had been invited to Mauritania by Colonel Fal, became the third West African head of state to visit the country since the August 3 coup. -------------- IMPROVING RELATIONS AND STRENGTHENING TIES -------------- ¶2. (C) Both Compaore's visit last week and Colonel Fal's trip to Burkina Faso in December represent a warming in Mauritanian-Burkinabe relations. These relations were strained under former President Taya, who believed that Burkina Faso -- along with Libya -- was trying to destabilize his regime. Tensions increased after Taya publicly accused Ouagadougou of supporting the Nights of Change -- a group of former military officers that had led an unsuccessful coup attempt in 2003. ¶3. (U) Compaore used the visit as an opportunity to express his support for Fal and the transitional government. "Rarely have we had as much public support for a regime heading towards democracy in Africa," Compaore said, adding that Mauritania's level of "peace" and its "clear vision for democratization" were exceptional. ¶4. (U) The two leaders discussed shared interests and emphasized economic connections and bilateral cooperation. "We are here to consolidate our connections and see what we can offer each other in various sectors, including economic development, transportation, arts, animal husbandry, and technical and professional training," Compare said. Compare's delegation of more than 15 Burkinabe government officials included his Minister of Security and Minister of Mines, Quarries and Energy. -------------- GAMBIAN PRESIDENT VISITS MAURITANIA -------------- ¶5. (C) In an additional sign of Mauritania's move towards its West African Neighbors, Gambian President El Hadj Yahaya A.J.J. Jammeh arrived in Nouakchott March 20 for a comparable "friendship and working" visit. While the agenda for NOUAKCHOTT 00000321 002 OF 002 Jammeh's visit is similar to that of Compare's, Jammeh's trip is seen more as a trip to maintain positive relations, rather than build them. LeBaron