MAURITANIAN DELEGATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 002718 STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W AND DAF/RSA FOR WHALDEMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL MR AU SF SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN DELEGATION IN SOUTH AFRICA REF: A) PRETORIA 02621 B) ADDIS ABABA 03240 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Helen M. La Lime. Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On December 9, 2008 Deputy Chief of Mission Helen La Lime met with the National Front for the Defense of Democracy (FNDD) delegation from Mauritania led by National Assembly Speaker Messaoud Ould Boulkheir. Boulkheir explained the urgent need for action against the military junta that ousted the democratically-elected government of Mauritania in a coup on August 6, 2008, saying that the junta is consolidating its power. African Union (AU) and South African Government (SAG) representatives expressed strong support for Mauritanian President Sidi Mohamed Ould Abdallahi. The delegation thanked the U.S. for its support and asked for further assistance in influencing Arab countries and European Union (EU) leadership to implement sanctions against the junta. They also asked the U.S. to work for a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning the coup. End summary. -------------- AU SUPPORTS ABDALLAHI -------------- ¶2. (C) The delegation first met with AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping in Addis Ababa. Ping told the delegation the AU is "very committed" to the failure of the military coup. AU President Jakaya Kikwete reiterated the AU's support for the Abdallahi government when he met with the delegation in Dar es Salaam. -------------- SOUTH AFRICA IN STEP WITH AU -------------- ¶3. (C) On December 7 the delegation met with South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who expressed support for the democratically-elected government of Mauritania. Boulkheir said he asked the SAG to support a proposal to invite President Abdallahi to attend AU meetings on Mauritania. If the junta will not release Abdallahi, who is currently under house arrest, then the FNDD wants a representative of the Abdallahi government to attend the meetings. Motlanthe told the delegation that the SAG shares AU concern regarding the precedent a successful coup would set for Africa. According to Boulkheir, the SAG supports sanctions. -------------- DELEGATION ASKS U.S. TO LOBBY ARAB STATES -------------- ¶4. (C) Boulkheir thanked the U.S. for its declarations condemning the coup and for implementing targeted sanctions against the coup leaders and illegitimate government officials. The FNDD is concerned that the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Arab League countries are soft on the military junta. Boulkheir plans to lobby Libya for support, but he said the FNDD does not have much clout with the Arab countries. He thinks the Arab countries will be more responsive to the Europeans or Americans. The delegation asked for the U.S. to influence the Arab countries to condemn the coup and implement targeted sanctions, including banning travel and freezing assets, against the junta. Boulkheir named Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt as key players. He said Egypt condemned the military coup in theory, but opposed sanctions. Boulkheir said only Qcoup in theory, but opposed sanctions. Boulkheir said only widely applied sanctions would induce the junta to leave power. -------------- -------------- BOULKHEIR EXPLAINS SPANISH OBJECTIONS TO SANCTIONS -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Boulkheir gave two reasons for Spain blocking EU sanctions against the junta. He said Spain is a principal beneficiary of the EU's fishing contract with the Mauritanian government. The junta government threatened to give that fishing contract to Japan and China if the EU imposed sanctions, according to Boulkheir. He said Spain is also worried that any EU actions against the junta would provoke a border policy that allows intending illegal immigrants from Mali and Senegal to pass through Mauritania on their way to Spain. -------------- -------------- DELEGATION LOOKS TO U.S. TO LEAD ON INTERNATIONAL FRONT -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) The delegation also asked for U.S. support for a UNSC resolution that condemns the coup. He asked the U.S. to collaborate with France on UNSC and EU actions against the junta. According to Boulkheir, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Agency are taking different positions on the political crisis in Mauritania. The FNDD is seeking clarity on France's official position. The delegation requested assistance in developing concrete measures, beyond verbal condemnation, to pressure the junta to step down. ¶7. (C) Boulkheir noted that the Czech Republic will replace France as head of the European Union on January 1. He asked the U.S. to help persuade the Czechs to support sanctions. He thinks the Czech Republic may be supportive of sanctions as it has no direct or indirect interests in Mauritania. -------------- DELEGATION'S NEXT STOPS -------------- ¶8. (C) Boulkheir said the delegation will go to Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso after South Africa. They would like to meet with U.S. Embassy representatives from each of those countries. They asked U.S. Embassy officials to contact National Party for Development President Abdelkoudouss Abeidna at (222)642-02-03/(222)630-21-77 or by email at Pnd rim@yahoo.fr to arrange a meeting. BOST