Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NOUAKCHOTT665
2006-06-01 18:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
LIBYA LOOKING TO FINANCE MAURITANIAN POLITICAL
how-toVZCZCXRO5103 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHPA DE RUEHNK #0665 1521841 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 011841Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5550 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0276 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0321 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0467 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0285 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0229
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000665
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: LIBYA LOOKING TO FINANCE MAURITANIAN POLITICAL
PARTIES
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000665
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: LIBYA LOOKING TO FINANCE MAURITANIAN POLITICAL
PARTIES
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) On May 30, National Democratic Institute (NDI) North
African Regional Director Gerard Latulippe briefed Ambassador
on the status of NDI's efforts to help Mauritania prepare for
elections (septel). During the meeting, Latulippe said that
while in a hotel in Tripoli three weeks earlier, he happened
upon Mohamed Ould Dellahi, president of the political party
coalition, Bloc for Change.
2. (C) Dellahi reluctantly told Latulippe that he and other
key Mauritanian political figures were in Tripoli at the
invitation of the Libyan government, to discuss funding for
their political campaigns for the coming elections.
Latulippe told Ambassador that he later saw several other
Mauritanian political party leaders, but didn't have a chance
to speak with them.
3. (C) Dellahi's admission follows weeks of rumors about
Libya's potential role in Mauritania's elections. Suspicion
began after several political party leaders met Libyan
officials in Timbuktu, Mali on April 11 during the Id
el-Mawlud el-Nebewi (the celebration of Prophet Mohamed's
birthday). Several weeks later, the political party
coalition, Rally of the Forces for Progress (a catchall
coalition of six minor parties),claimed that several larger
parties were receiving financial support from the Libyans (in
violation of Mauritanian law) and called on the Mauritanian
authorities to take action.
4. (C) Embassy comment. Libya has a history of financial
involvement in the region's political affairs, including in
the past elections in Mali and Niger, and their involvement
here comes as no surprise. But their role is worrisome.
Mauritania's political transition is still quite fragile, and
Mauritania's inexperienced political parties are quite
susceptible to external influence. Post will follow
Tripoli's moves and report any developments. End comment.
LeBaron
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: LIBYA LOOKING TO FINANCE MAURITANIAN POLITICAL
PARTIES
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) On May 30, National Democratic Institute (NDI) North
African Regional Director Gerard Latulippe briefed Ambassador
on the status of NDI's efforts to help Mauritania prepare for
elections (septel). During the meeting, Latulippe said that
while in a hotel in Tripoli three weeks earlier, he happened
upon Mohamed Ould Dellahi, president of the political party
coalition, Bloc for Change.
2. (C) Dellahi reluctantly told Latulippe that he and other
key Mauritanian political figures were in Tripoli at the
invitation of the Libyan government, to discuss funding for
their political campaigns for the coming elections.
Latulippe told Ambassador that he later saw several other
Mauritanian political party leaders, but didn't have a chance
to speak with them.
3. (C) Dellahi's admission follows weeks of rumors about
Libya's potential role in Mauritania's elections. Suspicion
began after several political party leaders met Libyan
officials in Timbuktu, Mali on April 11 during the Id
el-Mawlud el-Nebewi (the celebration of Prophet Mohamed's
birthday). Several weeks later, the political party
coalition, Rally of the Forces for Progress (a catchall
coalition of six minor parties),claimed that several larger
parties were receiving financial support from the Libyans (in
violation of Mauritanian law) and called on the Mauritanian
authorities to take action.
4. (C) Embassy comment. Libya has a history of financial
involvement in the region's political affairs, including in
the past elections in Mali and Niger, and their involvement
here comes as no surprise. But their role is worrisome.
Mauritania's political transition is still quite fragile, and
Mauritania's inexperienced political parties are quite
susceptible to external influence. Post will follow
Tripoli's moves and report any developments. End comment.
LeBaron