UN CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR ELECTORAL PROCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000894

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: UN CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR ELECTORAL PROCESS

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 812

Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)

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(C) Key Points
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-- In a July 18 letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the UN formally announced its continued support for the
democratic transition process in Mauritania.

-- The letter, which congratulates the government on the
success of the referendum, includes 16 recommendations for
improving the inclusively of the electoral lists, enhancing
the role of the electoral commission, and strengthening the
transition process.

-- Key recommendations include:

- Reopening the voter lists before the November
elections;

- Improving the process for issuing National ID cards
required for voter registration;

- Allowing for national election observers; and

- Ensuring the independence of the electoral commission
and administration in the coming elections.

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(C) Comments
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-- The letter contains no surprises, and tracks closely with
the UN election assessment mission's out-brief with
Ambassador June 29 (reftel). The letter, however, does
strengthen our hand in pressuring the government to take the
necessary steps to improve the electoral process.

-- Ambassador will present many of these recommendations in
his next meeting with Colonel Fal.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (C) UN Under Secretary General of Political Affairs
Ibrahim Gambari formally announced the UN's continued support
for the democratic transition process in a letter to
Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ould Sid'Ahmed
on July 18. The letter, which UN Resident Representative
provided Ambassador, includes 16 recommendations for
improving the inclusively of the electoral lists, enhancing
the role of the National Independent Electoral Commission
(NIEC),and strengthening the transition process. The letter
followed a formal UN election assessment mission sent to
observe the referendum June 19 - 29 (reftel).

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RECOMMENDATIONS
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2. (C) The letter offered six recommendations to improve the
electoral lists and make them more inclusive, exhaustive and
exact:

- Reopen the voter lists before the November municipal and
legislative elections to allow additional persons to register
to vote.

- Conduct a post-election survey to assess the completeness
of voter lists and identify registration problems.

- Establish mechanisms to ensure the inclusion of persons
with Mauritanian nationality who did not have their
nationality recognized during the census for various reasons
(fraud, corruption, exclusion of certain groups, and
administrative errors and slowness). Hopefully, particular
attention will be paid to those who have been repatriated or
have voluntarily returned.

- Establish corrective measures for the issuance of National

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ID cards to allow for the inclusion of all potential electors
who are currently unduly excluded.

- Assure that electors with National ID cards are on the
voter lists and have their voter card.

- Make additional efforts to ensure that electors receive
their voter cards before the next elections.


3. (C) The letter offered five recommendations to improve the
National Independent Electoral Commission's (NIEC)
independence and effectiveness:

- Hold a conference as soon as possible to assess the lessons
learned from the referendum in order to improve the
operations of the upcoming elections.

- The election assessment mission noted that the independence
of NIEC was called into question during the referendum. It
will be necessary for the NIEC to more strongly exert its
role as election supervisor, in order to correct this
perception and avoid discrediting the electoral process.

- Train poll workers, particularly on creating uniformed
electoral procedures. In order to do this, electoral
authorities should use the manual prepared by the UN
Electoral Assistance Team.

- Clarify the role and provide training for the security
forces deployed at polling stations in order to limit their
involvement in the voting process and tabulation.

- Regarding electoral disputes, the UN recommends that
judicial authorities, political parties and the NIEC initiate
working sessions to create a climate of trust, and allow for
the proper management of electoral disputes.


4. (C) Finally, the letter provides five additional
recommendations for strengthening the transition process:

- Establish mechanisms for accrediting national election
observers.

- Enforce the press law providing fair and equal access to
the media for political parties and candidates.

- Assemble all electoral laws (currently contained in various
legal texts) into a single coherent source.

- It is crucial for the credibility of the government and
administration that it remains neutral throughout the
electoral process in order to maintain the calm atmosphere
seen during the referendum.

- The UN would like to encourage the government to put in
place a mechanism, following from the National Consultations
(in October 2005),to maintain and consolidate the climate of
dialogue and mutual trust and go more deeply into issues of
national interest, specifically the human rights abuses from

1989. The UN is aware that national reconciliation is a
long-term affair.
LeBaron