Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NOUAKCHOTT668
2008-11-13 14:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT ABDALLAHI TRANSFERRED TO NATIVE VILLAGE

Tags:  PGOV PREL MR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7821
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0242
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0291
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0622
RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0361
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0736
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000668 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MR
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ABDALLAHI TRANSFERRED TO NATIVE VILLAGE
AND PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000668

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MR
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ABDALLAHI TRANSFERRED TO NATIVE VILLAGE
AND PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Local media outlets have reported that President
Abdallahi was transferred from Nouakchott during the night of
November 12-13 to his native village of Lemden and placed
under house arrest. LES contacts have independently confirmed
the reports through indirect communication with Abdallahi's
daughter. Abdallahi's transfer comes after spending more than
three months under house arrest at the Palais de Congres in
Nouakchott.


2. (C) President Abdallahi's native village of Lemden is
located about 250km southeast of Nouakchott off the main road
between Boutlimit and Aleg. Press reports state that he was
escorted in the middle of the night to Lemden by Col. Mohamed
Ould Meguett of the military junta (High State Council) and
guards from the presidential security battalion (BASEP).
Abdallahi is supposedly able to receive visits from family
members; however, it is unknown at this time if he will be
able to receive visits from friends, political allies, or
foreign diplomats. A small delegation of the anti-coup FNDD
composed of Mohamed Ould Maouloud Ahmed Ould Sidi Baba, and
Moyhedine Ould Sidi Baba (and possibly others) is currently
headed to Lemden to attempt to visit the President and hold a
press conference this evening.


3. (C) During a previously arranged meeting with President
of the National Assembly Ould Boulkheir, Charge learned that
the President had already been able to speak to the collected
FNDD leadership by phone this morning. The FNDD leadership
plans to travel to the President's village this afternoon to
test the conditions of the President's contention. Abdallahi
had been told he had "all liberties" except that he could not
leave his village. Ould Boulkheir said that a request by his
wife and children to visit the President had been denied by
the regime. The FNDD leadership does not expect to be
successful in their efforts to meet the President, but want
to prove the point he is still detained. Ould Boulkheir
thought the President had surreptitious access to a phone,
but in the middle of the meeting President Abdallahi was
heard doing a telephone interview with Al Jazeera so,
presumable, the phone is no longer hidden. Ould Boulkheir
was pleased that the President re-stated his status as the
continuing President of Mauritania and avoided taking a
position on next-steps -- Abdallahi said he only knew what he
had heard through the radio and would have to meet with his
advisors before discussing the political path forward. Ould
Boulkheir was annoyed that the Al Jezeera television anchor
spent over half the interview challenging the President for
his "blockage of parliament" before the coup. Charge urged
Ould Boulkheir, if he is able to meet with the President, not
to allow the debate to revert to the torturous details of the
political process before August 6 but to turn the debate
forward to the larger issue of the preservation and
reinforcement of democracy.


4. (C) Comment: The removal of Abdallahi from Nouakchott
continues President Taya's practice of sending rivals to the
interior and placing them under house arrest as the regime
has done over the past two months with Prime Minister Waghef.
It appears the President will still be severely constrained
in his liberties although the regime has already lost the
ability to communicate with his supporters and the outside
world. The change should not substantially change the
position of the European Union during its November 20 meeting
unless the President truly has freedom of movement and
communication. It is unclear why the regime chose to
transfer the President now. As President Abdallahi's
transfer comes one week before the EU ultimatum on November
20, the military junta will undoubtedly attempt to use
Abdallahi's "liberation" to their own advantage.
International pressure probably played some role in the
transfer of Abdallahi. However, more practical reasons may
have been at work. The "national dialogue on democracy"
scheduled to take place soon will be held at the Palais de
Congres -- the presence of a deposed president under house
arrest at the same venue would hardly present the image of
national dialogue that the military junta wishes to project.
End comment.
HANKINS