MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000156

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR AF-BOULWARE; AF/W-HEFLIN/DENNISON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 15-19

REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 137

B. NOUAKCHOTT 140

C. NOUAKCHOTT 143

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Cornelius C. Walsh for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: For the week of February 15-19, a Libyan
delegation visited Mauritania, with little tangible results.
The junta sent a letter to the AU proposing a way out of the
crisis, a move widely regarded as a bid to avoid further EU
condemnation. A proxy of Colonel Vall put forth a new
initiative out of the crisis, while the FNDD was authorized
to hold a rally for the first time in many months. President
Abdallahi's son was detained and transferred from Lemden to
Nouakchott to appear before the Senate for a corruption
investigation. Anxiety over targeted sanctions continued
withoin regime circles and President Abdahllahi and FNDD
reached out to Francophonie ferbuaru 20 meeting with a letter
offereing serious concessions to resolve the crisis,
including and "honroable" exit for the perpetrators of the
coup. End summary.


2. (SBU) Libyan delegation visit: A Libyan delegation made
a surprise visit to Mauritania February 11-14 to try to find
a solution to the crisis (Ref A). However, no official
announcement was made regarding the outcome of the
delegation's visit, beyond vague statements from various
political actors that they were willing to talk.


3. (SBU) Junta letter to AU: In a letter dated February 12
and made public February 17, junta "Foreign Minister" Mohamed
Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou put forth a proposal from the High
State Council to resolve the crisis (Ref B). Vague in many
crucial areas (particularly with respect to General Aziz),it
was widely regarded as a last ditch attempt by the junta to
sway European opinion in its favor ahead of the February 20
EU consultative meeting in Paris (Ref C).


4. (C) Colonel Vall comes out of the shadows: Yet another
in a long line of initiatives to solve the crisis was
announced, this time by Mahfoudh Ould Bettah February 18.
This initiative, however, was noteworthy because Bettah,
Minister of Justice during the democratic transition period
of 2005-2007, is regarded as Vall's strongman. LES state
that any statement from Bettah can be interpreted as coming
from Vall himself. The initiative called for the HCE
(specifically singling out General Aziz by name),the FNDD,
and the RFD to come to the table and negotiate. Comment:
Vall, who has kept his intentions so far a closely guarded
secret, may finally be emerging into the limelight. The
imposition of AU sanctions and perceived increasing weakness
of Aziz may be encouraging Vall to test the waters. End
comment.


5. (SBU) FNDD rally authorized: For the first time in
several months, the anti-coup FNDD was authorized by the
regional governor of Nouakchott to hold a rally, which took
place February 19 at Capital Stadium in Nouakchott. The FNDD
was not, however, authorized to march outside the stadium.
Comment: The rally's authorization fits into the junta's
previous patterns of allowing opposition gatherings, albeit
under strict control, just before a major international
deadline regarding the situation in Mauritania. Attendance
estimates vary between 1,500 (resonable) and (4,000) (a bit
high). At rally, FNDD leader Maloud unveiled Abdahllahi
letter to January 20 OIF meeting and underscored that
President was willing make concessions outlined, while Junta
refused to budge. End comment.


6. (C) President Abdallahi's son detained: Local press
reports state and LES have confirmed that Mohamed Ould Cheikh
Abdallahi, President Abdallahi's son, was detained by the
Gendarmerie February 19 in his native village of Lemden and
taken to Nouakchott. Abdallahi is scheduled to appear before
a Parliamentary investigative committee looking into supposed
corruption charges against President Abdallahi's wife,

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Khattou Mint Boukhary. Comment: Conspiracy theories abound
that Abdallahi's forced transfer to Nouakchott the same day
of a planned FNDD rally is a move by the High State Council
to sow confusion among the FNDD's ranks. Abdahllahi fils was
released from the Senate in the evening and did not make the
rally. End comment.


7. (C) Daddah requests meeting: PolOff met at the request
of Ahmed Ould Daddah at RFD party headquarters February 19.
Report follows.


8. (C) Maouloud requests meeting: Charge met at the request
of FNDD co-leader Mohamed Ould Maouloud February 19. report
follows septel.


9. (U) Lowest moment of the week: In wake of Libyan
delegation visit, Al Jazeera was prepared to carry one hour
special on Mauritanian crisis with appearances by all major
players, FNDD, pro and anti regime parliamentarians, Junta
MinInfo, Ould Dahdah and RFD as well as indepoendents.
However, program was scrubbed when RFD/Ould Dadhdah refused
to appear because they had not been granted same courtesies
of invitation as other participants, i.e., FNDD and
Abdahllahi camp.

HANKINS