NDI OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000901 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR SUBJECT: NDI OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) -------------- (C) Key Points -------------- -- National Democratic Institute (NDI) reps told Ambassador "we are confident the transition will go on as planned... NDI remains optimistic." -- However, NDI reps said several problems need to be addressed: (a) improving the poor relationship between the political parties, civil society, and the transitional government's inter-ministerial committee on elections, and (b) providing political party funding in advance of the November elections. -- In the coming months, NDI will focus on enhancing the political parties' abilities to organize and run effective campaigns. -------------- (C) Comments -------------- -- NDI's assessments are correct. On the whole, the democratic transition is steadily moving forward. But significant electoral issues remain. Ambassador will take these up in detail in his upcoming call on junta-leader Fal. -- NDI continues to be the only significant organization, domestic or international, helping political parties prepare for elections. NDI's role is absolutely critical in setting the stage for a successful transition to democracy. End Key Points and Comments. ¶1. (U) On July 18, National Democratic Institute (NDI) Senior Program Officer Gregory Houel and Resident Director Jacques Veilleux briefed Ambassador on the status of NDI's efforts to help Mauritania prepare for elections. -------------- NDI OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION -------------- ¶2. (U) Responding to Ambassador's question about NDI's assessment of the transition, Veilleux said "we are confident the transition will go on as planned," adding that "we are working with the political parties to accept the electoral results, regardless of what happens (to an individual party's success or failure at the polls)." Houel added that "NDI remains optimistic about the transition." -------------- CURRENT SHORTFALLS -------------- ¶3. (C) Veilleux said the largest transition problem was currently the poor relationship between the political parties, civil society, and the transitional government. Consultations between the parties with the inter-ministerial committee on elections and with the Ministry of Interior have been intermittent and frustrating. ¶4. (C) "Political parties were largely excluded from the run-up to the referendum," Veilleux said, adding that "either because the government was too focused on the referendum to include the political parties in the planning, or because they simply didn't want to." "The political parties keep telling us that they feel like a rubber stamp," Houel said, adding that "the Coalition of Forces for Democratic Change (the strongest party coalition),met with Fal last week to complain about this problem." ¶5. (C) Financing for political parties is the second most significant problem. "The Council of Ministers has approved a bill allowing for political party funding after the November elections, but this does not provide anything for the run-up to November," Houel said, adding that "the Ministry of Interior or Finance needs to issue a decree to provide funding before these important elections." "Several NOUAKCHOTT 00000901 002 OF 002 parties have told us that without pre-election funding, they will not be able to participate and campaign in the November elections." ¶6. (C) Houel said NDI had hired local attorneys to create a draft ministerial decree for pre-election political party funding. "We will give the decree to the political parties at the end of the month, and they can then present it directly to the government," Houel said, adding that "this will hopefully speed up the government's response." "In all our efforts, NDI is trying to teach political parties to be more proactive and present alternatives to the government, not just complain and offer nothing," Houel said. ¶7. (U) The NDI team also expressed concern about the neutrality of the government in the coming elections. "The referendum was a national project, so the government's strong campaigning could be understood," Houel said, cautioning that "the coming elections, however, are entirely different, and the government must remain neutral, or risk invalidating the results." -------------- NDI PROGRAMMING -------------- ¶8. (U) In the coming months, NDI will focus on enhancing political parties' abilities to organize and run effective campaigns. They will hold several two-day training workshops on campaign fundraising and organization, platform formation, public debating, and election observation. Other political party programs will include party coalition development, candidate training, and enhancing dialogue with the government and civil society. ¶9. (U) Additional NDI programs will focus on improving the role of women and youth in the political process. ¶10. (U) NDI continues providing political parties material assistance and training through their Nouakchott Resource Center. LeBaron