MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000131 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO MR SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8-12 REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 114 ¶B. NOUAKCHOTT 117 ¶C. NOUAKCHOTT 126 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: For the week of February 8-12, the junta, political parties, and media voiced their first responses to AU-imposed sanctions. General Aziz visited the University of Nouakchott, leading to a tale of two visits, and he remained coy about his presidential intentions. Amidst rumors of CEN-SAD providing observers for the presidential elections on June 6, the Charge visited President Abdallahi in his native village of Lemden for the third time since the coup. End summary. ¶2. (U) Proposed constitutional referendum: On February 7 the junta announced that the government is organizing a referendum to be held during the second round of presidential elections June 20. No further details were provided as to the content of the referendum, though it was widely assumed it will be for proposed constitutional amendments to reduce the power of the President in favor of the Prime Minister and Parliament. ¶3. (SBU) Reactions to AU-imposed sanctions: On February 9 the junta provided a muted first response to the sanctions imposed by the AU February 6 (Ref A). Several political parties and media outlets provided reactions to the sanctions as well, ranging from condemnations in the pro-coup camp to support among the anti-coup camp (Ref B). ¶4. (C) General Aziz visits the university: Junta leader and self-appointed "Head of State" General Aziz visited the University of Nouakchott February 10. Two divergent narratives emerged in the press regarding his visit, falling predictably into pro- and anti-coup camps. The pro-coup press highlighted Aziz's visit with the rector, professors, and students, and his insistence that conditions for the students "must be improved." The anti-coup narrative described students chanting anti-Aziz slogans, throwing rocks and shoes at his procession, and blocking his exit from the university. Comment: An LES with contacts in the university community confirmed that students did in fact shout at Aziz and hurl projectiles, but they were far enough away from him that he was able to ignore the shouts, and none of the projectiles threatened him at any time. According to some press reports, as soon as Aziz left the university, the police rushed in and detained several students. End comment. ¶5. (U) Aziz presidential candidacy: Aziz continued to remain coy about his intentions regarding a presidential candidacy. During his visit to the university, he brushed aside a question from the press about his candidacy, saying such talk was "premature." Still, many observers regarded his visit to the university as a resumption of his attempts to be seen with "the people" and burnish his presidential candidate image ahead of anticipated elections on June 6. Note: Local press reports state that in a private meeting with his ministers February 6, Aziz confirmed to them that he would in fact stand as a candidate in the presidential elections. There still has been no official announcement regarding his candidacy. End note. ¶6. (C) CEN-SAD election observers: On February 10 the state-run news agency AMI reported that the African sub-regional organization CEN-SAD (Community of Sahel-Saharan States) had agreed to send election observers to Mauritania. However, Post has been unable to obtain independent confirmation that CEN-SAD in fact pledged election observers. Comment: Local independent media has merely regurgitated the AMI story verbatim, while the CEN-SAD website has yet to publish an official communique on its meeting in Rabat February 9-10. Given the regime's recent fabrication of stories (for example, a recently reported story in AMI of a supposed Spanish deal to enlarge the Port of Nouadhibou was officially denied by the Spanish embassy),it is possible that this report of CEN-SAD election observers is also regime NOUAKCHOTT 00000131 002 OF 002 propaganda. Given that most CEN-SAD members are also AU members, it seems unlikely they would completely ignore the AU's position and suddenly recognize the junta-organized elections and send observers. Post will be following this issue closely. End comment. ¶7. (C) Charge visits President Abdallahi: The Charge visited Abdallahi in his native village of Lemden February 10 (Ref C). This was the Charge's third visit to Abdallahi since the coup. HANKINS