USAU: AU PSC MINISTERIAL TAKES STRONG STAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 003450

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UN MR AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AU PSC MINISTERIAL TAKES STRONG STAND
AGAINST MAURITANIA COUP

Classified By: Ambassador John Simon for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) This message contains an action request in paragraph

6.


2. (U) Summary: At an African Union Peace and Security
Council Ministerial meeting on December 22, the AU agreed to
take concrete measures against the coup leaders who overthrew
the legitimate government of Mauritania. Specifically, the
AU decided to implement targeted sanctions, including visa
denials, travel restrictions, and asset freezes, against all
the members of the coup and their supporters as of February 5
if constitutional order is not restored, and requested that
all members of the AU, the United Nations, the League of Arab
States, the International Organization of the Francophonie,
the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the European
Union to be seized with the matter. End Summary


3. (U) In discussions prior to the meeting, the AU
Commission made clear its desire for the outcome of the
ministerial to be an unambiguous rebuke of the coup. In its
strongly-worded report issued to the PSC, the Commission
recommended that the PSC "take a firm stand in the face of
the resurgence of the phenomenon of coup d'etat in Africa."
The AU Commission report recommended three specific measures:
suggesting the heads of state who comprise the Assembly of
the Union ask legitimate President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi
to appoint the country's representatives to the next AU
Summit in Addis Ababa, considering the imposition of
sanctions targeted at the coup leaders and their supporters
if no progress is made by February 5, and asking the UNSC to
be seized with the matter and consider additional measures.


4. (C) According to several of our interlocutors, the PSC
felt these recommended measures were not strong enough.
Rather than consider imposing sanctions in the future, the
PSC agreed to the targeted sanctions at the meeting, to be
implemented by February 5 if constitutional order is not
restored. The sanctions are to cover "all individuals, both
civilian and military, whose activities are designed to
maintain the unconstitutional status quo in Mauritania." The
PSC also suggested that the UN Security Council should impose
similar measures "to impart to them a universal character."
The PSC noted the release of President Abdallahi from house
arrest, but made clear that this action "is not sufficient
for a return to constitutional order." At a press conference
following the meeting, Peace and Security Commissioner
Lamamra stated: "We are appealing to the International
Community to support the African Union. We want to
discourage people from taking power illegitimately."


5. (C) Comment: The final outcome of the meeting on
Mauritania was by no means assured at the outset. The
meeting went several hours past its scheduled time. One item
of contention was whether the representative of the
legitimate President, Sidi Mohammed Amajar, would be allowed
to address the gathering, which he ultimately was. In the
coming days, we will seek additional information on the
dynamics in the room. End Comment.


6. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests that Washington
consider issuing a statement lauding the strong stand of the
AU PSC against the coup in Mauritania.


7. (U) Begin text of Communique

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU),at
its 163rd meeting, held at the ministerial level in Addis
Ababa, on 22 December 2008, adopted the following decision on
the situation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania following
the 6
August 2008 coup d,Etat in that country:

Council,

Takes note of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission
on the situation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
(PSC/MIN/COMM.3(CLXIII)) and the outcome of the consultations
with the various Mauritanian parties, as well as those of
consultative and coordination meetings held at the initiative
of the Commission between the AU, the League of Arab States,
the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF),the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC),the United Nations,
and the European Union (EU) in Addis Ababa, on 10 and 21
November 2008. Council also takes note of the briefings by
the representatives of the United Nations, EU, OIF, as well

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as the one by a representative of President Sidi Ould Cheikh
Abdallahi;

Further takes note of the results of the high level mission
to Mauritania, led by the AU, on 6 and 7 December 2008,
particularly the commitment of General Mohamed Ould Abdel
Aziz to release President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi without
conditions, by 24 December 2008 at the latest;

Takes note of the release of President Sidi Ould Cheikh
Abdellahi and considers that this development partially
responds to the demands of the international community but is
not sufficient for a return to constitutional order;

Encourages the Chairperson of the Commission and the
Commissioner for Peace and Security to continue to deploy
efforts towards the return to constitutional legality in
Mauritania;

Expresses its deep concern with the lack of political will
and the obstinance to remain in power despite the efforts
deployed to date with a view to facilitating the return
to constitutional legality in Mauritania;

Recalls the relevant provisions of Communiqu PSC/MIN/Comm.2
(CLI) adopted at its 151st meeting held in New York, on 22
September 2008. In this regard, Council reiterates its firm
condemnation of the coup d,Etat and all measures taken by
its authors to consolidate the situation born out from this
coup d,Etat and reiterates the legitimacy of the
constitutional order represented by the democratically
elected institutions from the legislative and presidential
elections respectively held in November 2006 and March 2007;

Recalls also the provisions of the Communiqu of its 156th
meeting, held on 11 November 2008, which, inter alia,
requests the Commission to submit to it, as soon as possible,
concrete measures to be put in place on the basis of
Communiqu PSC/MIN/Comm.2 (CLI) cited above and in accordance
with the relevant provisions of the Lom Declaration of July
2000 on Unconstitutional Changes of Government;

Further recalls relevant provisions of the AU Constitutive
Act, Decision AHG/142 (XXXV) adopted Algiers in July 1999,
the Lom Declaration of July 2000 and the Protocol Relating
to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council on
Unconstitutional Changes of Government, as well as the
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
ratified by Mauritania last July, thereby becoming the first
Member State party to this instrument;

Decides that, pursuant to the pertinent provisions of the
Lome Declaration of July 2000 and the Protocol Relating to
the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council on
Unconstitutional Changes of Government, if by 5 February
2009, constitutional order is not restored, Council will
impose measures, including targeted sanctions, in particular
visa denials, travel restrictions and freezing of assets, to
all individuals, both civilian and military, whose activities
are designed to maintain the unconstitutional status quo in
Mauritania. Council also decides to communicate the said
measures to the UN Security Council for it to impart to them
a universal character, in light of the United Nations
Security Council Presidential Statement of 19 August 2008;

Underlines the importance of the support of the international
community to reinforce the effectiveness of the action of the
AU. In this respect, Council requests the Chairperson of the
Commission to formally seize all Member States of the AU, the
United Nations, the League of the Arab States, the OIF, the
OCI, the EU and all other actors concerned with the view to
requesting their support in the framework of the continuous
efforts aimed at facilitating the return to constitutional
order;

Decides also to communicate the present decision to the UN
Security Council for it to continue, in the light of its
Presidential Statement of 19 August 2008, to actively support
the current efforts of the African Union;

Encourages the Chairperson of the Commission to pursue his
efforts with the Mauritanian parties and his consultations
with partner international organizations of the AU with the
view to promoting the return to constitutional order in
Mauritania within the deadline stipulated in the Lome
Declaration;

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Decides to remain seized of the matter.
End text of Communique.
YAMAMOTO