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)

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(C) Key Points
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-- 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.

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(C) Comments
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-- 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.

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IMPROVING RELATIONS AND STRENGTHENING TIES
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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.

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GAMBIAN PRESIDENT VISITS MAURITANIA
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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

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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