Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT261
2009-04-12 09:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NOUAKCHOTT 000261
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KDEM MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF
APRIL 5-9
REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 250
B. NOUAKCHOTT 247
C. NOUAKCHOTT 246
D. NOUAKCHOTT 251
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 SECTION 01 OF 03 NOUAKCHOTT 000261
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KDEM MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF
APRIL 5-9
REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 250
B. NOUAKCHOTT 247
C. NOUAKCHOTT 246
D. NOUAKCHOTT 251
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) Summary: For the week of April 5-9, anti-coup
sentiment was visible in several venues. The EU suspended
cooperation with Mauritania for two years, while an
unfortunate translation of a NATO statement sowed confusion.
The national electoral commission was finally appointed,
while former PM Zein Ould Zeidane denied harboring any
presidential ambitions for the upcoming elections. A
suspected Salafist died in prison, and the FNDD staged a
major rally in Capital Stadium. General Aziz remained coy
about his own presidential candidacy in an interview with a
French news channel, but did confirm that "God willing" he
will resign before April 22. End summary.
2. (SBU) Anti-coup protests: Two anti-coup protests were
violently dispersed April 2 and 3, resulting in several
injuries (Ref A).
3. (SBU) Anti-coup graffiti: Conscience and Resistance, a
Mauritanian leftist group, spray-painted various anti-Aziz
and anti-coup slogans on walls around town. Such activities
date back to the time of President Taya, when Conscience and
Resistance carried out similar actions. "HIGH STATE COUNCIL
= TRAITORS" and "AZIZ IS A THIEF" were representative of the
spray-painted slogans.
4. (C) FNDD distrusts Senegalese: Charge met April 5 with
FNDD co-leader and UFP President Mohamed Ould Maouloud, who
expressed skepticism regarding the latest attempt to
"mediate" the crisis, this time by the Senegalese (Ref B).
5. (SBU) EU suspends cooperation: On April 6 the EU
suspended cooperation with Mauritania for two years. The
suspension was the end result of months of EU deliberations,
and closed the EU dossier on Mauritania. The EU stated that
the junta had not taken sufficient measures to restore
constitutional order; therefore, all non-humanitarian aid
would be suspended. Reaction in the local press to the EU
decision was muted.
6. (SBU) NATO statement confusion: A misleading French
translation of the original April 4 NATO statement regarding
Mauritania (Ref C) caused excitement in the pro-coup camp,
and consternation in the anti-coup camp. The French version
said that NATO is "delighted with the prospect of a return to
constitutional order," a misrepresentation of the original,
more neutral English statement that said NATO is "looking
forward to the return of constitutional order."
7. (SBU) Electoral commission selected: Members for the
National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) were
selected April 6, and Aziz swore in the new commission April
7 (Ref D).
8. (SBU) University students demonstrate: Several
university students demonstrated April 7 about the delay in
payments for their stipends. They burned tires, and
attempted to exit the university en masse to demonstrate.
Riot police used tear gas to force them back into the
university and only allowed them to exit individually, not as
a group. The economic implications of the students'
situation is discussed SEPTEL.
9. (SBU) NAFTEC bankruptcy: Rumors of NAFTEC bankruptcy
appeared in the press. NAFTEC (Arabic for "Your Oil") is an
oil importation and distribution company; see SEPTEL for more
information.
10. (C) Return of Zeidane: Rumors of a presidential
candidacy by Zein Ould Zeidane, President Abdallahi's first
NOUAKCHOTT 00000261 002 OF 003
prime minister, appeared in the press. Zeidane has remained
very quiet since the coup as to his opinions and plans.
PolOff met with Zeidane at his residence April 7, where he
denied reports in the press that he would run for President,
claiming he is "disgusted with politics."
11. (SBU) Suspected Salafist dies in prison: Local press
reports stated that Cheikhani Ould Sidina, brother of Sidi
Ould Sidina, died in prison April 8 in Nouakchott. Both
brothers were accused of being terrorists and belonging to
Salafist groups; Sidi Ould Sidina was directly involved in
the murder of four French tourists near Aleg in December
2007. A spokesman for the families of the imprisoned
Salafists stated that Cheikhani had been tortured recently
while in prison and was denied medical treatment. Local
press reports also stated that Salafist inmates had started a
hunger strike after Sidina's death to protest ongoing
mistreatment.
12. (C) Presidential pardon: Local press reports also
stated that 68 prisoners, some of them Salafists, would
receive a presidential pardon and be released. In a press
conference held a few hours after news of Sidina's death
spread, junta-designated Minister of Justice Bal Amadou
Tidjane denied that there was any relation between Sidina's
death and the amnesty. Comment: Tidjane's assertion that
there was "no connection" between the two events is hard to
swallow. Given the 2008 Amnesty International report
detailing torture in Mauritanian prisons, the junta was
probably eager to try and deflect any negative press. There
may be another factor at work as well; an NGO worker at the
main prison told Post (and local press reports corroborated)
that Nouakchott's prisons are extremely overcrowded. The
main prison, ironically located in the "Dar Naim"
neighborhood (Arabic for "House of Happiness") was built for
300 prisoners; it currently holds more than 1,200. Holding
an amnesty may be a way for the junta to ease overcrowding
(albeit slightly) and more importantly, try to gain favor
from the population ahead of elections. End comment.
13. (C) FNDD "mega-meeting": The FNDD obtained a permit to
hold a rally (which they termed a "mega-meeting") in the
Capital Stadium April 8. Turnout was large, though estimates
varied wildly: the FNDD claimed eight to ten thousand were
present, while the police stated four to five thousand were
present. RSO SD members estimated the crowd at about
3,000-3,500 people. In any case, attendance was strong,
considering it was an overt anti-junta event, and equaled or
rivaled that of the RFD rally held last week in the same
venue. The usual FNDD leaders were present, as well as five
leaders from RFD, whom National Assembly President Messaoud
Ould Boulkheir made sure to praise for their attendance.
(Note: Ahmed Ould Daddah is currently traveling abroad. End
note.) Boulkheir further called upon the people of
Nouadhibou and Selibaby to boycott upcoming visits from
General Aziz, and stated that Aziz "will not be president,
whatever he does."
14. (SBU) Aziz grants TV interview: Despite continuing
rumors about a possible delay for the June 6 presidential
elections, Aziz stated clearly in an interview April 8 with
the "France 24" satellite channel that elections will still
be held June 6. Moreover, according to him, "85-90% of
Mauritanians want these elections." (France 24 did two
interviews with Aziz, one in French and one in Arabic.)
Regarding his own possible candidacy in the upcoming
elections, Aziz was vague in both interviews, saying he was
still "thinking and reflecting on it." Regarding his
resignation from the military and President of the High State
Council, Aziz was vague in the French interview as well. In
the Arabic interview however, he was slightly more
forthcoming, saying "My resignation will be before April 22,
God willing... and the President of the Senate will be the
interim president, God willing, according to the
Constitution." Comment: Despite headlines in the local
press shouting Aziz's supposed announced candidacy, there
still has not been an official formal announcement from him
NOUAKCHOTT 00000261 003 OF 003
where he has said definitively that he is running (though
this is widely regarded as being a foregone conclusion). End
comment.
15. (C) Baba's dissidence from RFD: PolOff met April 8 with
RFD Vice President Kane Hamidou Baba who confirmed
disagreements with Ahmed Ould Daddah, but denied press
reports that he plans to resign from RFD, form a political
party, and run for president. Baba deplored the junta's
unilateral actions but made clear that he supports a
"participative approach" rather than a boycott.
HANKINS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KDEM MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF
APRIL 5-9
REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 250
B. NOUAKCHOTT 247
C. NOUAKCHOTT 246
D. NOUAKCHOTT 251
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) Summary: For the week of April 5-9, anti-coup
sentiment was visible in several venues. The EU suspended
cooperation with Mauritania for two years, while an
unfortunate translation of a NATO statement sowed confusion.
The national electoral commission was finally appointed,
while former PM Zein Ould Zeidane denied harboring any
presidential ambitions for the upcoming elections. A
suspected Salafist died in prison, and the FNDD staged a
major rally in Capital Stadium. General Aziz remained coy
about his own presidential candidacy in an interview with a
French news channel, but did confirm that "God willing" he
will resign before April 22. End summary.
2. (SBU) Anti-coup protests: Two anti-coup protests were
violently dispersed April 2 and 3, resulting in several
injuries (Ref A).
3. (SBU) Anti-coup graffiti: Conscience and Resistance, a
Mauritanian leftist group, spray-painted various anti-Aziz
and anti-coup slogans on walls around town. Such activities
date back to the time of President Taya, when Conscience and
Resistance carried out similar actions. "HIGH STATE COUNCIL
= TRAITORS" and "AZIZ IS A THIEF" were representative of the
spray-painted slogans.
4. (C) FNDD distrusts Senegalese: Charge met April 5 with
FNDD co-leader and UFP President Mohamed Ould Maouloud, who
expressed skepticism regarding the latest attempt to
"mediate" the crisis, this time by the Senegalese (Ref B).
5. (SBU) EU suspends cooperation: On April 6 the EU
suspended cooperation with Mauritania for two years. The
suspension was the end result of months of EU deliberations,
and closed the EU dossier on Mauritania. The EU stated that
the junta had not taken sufficient measures to restore
constitutional order; therefore, all non-humanitarian aid
would be suspended. Reaction in the local press to the EU
decision was muted.
6. (SBU) NATO statement confusion: A misleading French
translation of the original April 4 NATO statement regarding
Mauritania (Ref C) caused excitement in the pro-coup camp,
and consternation in the anti-coup camp. The French version
said that NATO is "delighted with the prospect of a return to
constitutional order," a misrepresentation of the original,
more neutral English statement that said NATO is "looking
forward to the return of constitutional order."
7. (SBU) Electoral commission selected: Members for the
National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) were
selected April 6, and Aziz swore in the new commission April
7 (Ref D).
8. (SBU) University students demonstrate: Several
university students demonstrated April 7 about the delay in
payments for their stipends. They burned tires, and
attempted to exit the university en masse to demonstrate.
Riot police used tear gas to force them back into the
university and only allowed them to exit individually, not as
a group. The economic implications of the students'
situation is discussed SEPTEL.
9. (SBU) NAFTEC bankruptcy: Rumors of NAFTEC bankruptcy
appeared in the press. NAFTEC (Arabic for "Your Oil") is an
oil importation and distribution company; see SEPTEL for more
information.
10. (C) Return of Zeidane: Rumors of a presidential
candidacy by Zein Ould Zeidane, President Abdallahi's first
NOUAKCHOTT 00000261 002 OF 003
prime minister, appeared in the press. Zeidane has remained
very quiet since the coup as to his opinions and plans.
PolOff met with Zeidane at his residence April 7, where he
denied reports in the press that he would run for President,
claiming he is "disgusted with politics."
11. (SBU) Suspected Salafist dies in prison: Local press
reports stated that Cheikhani Ould Sidina, brother of Sidi
Ould Sidina, died in prison April 8 in Nouakchott. Both
brothers were accused of being terrorists and belonging to
Salafist groups; Sidi Ould Sidina was directly involved in
the murder of four French tourists near Aleg in December
2007. A spokesman for the families of the imprisoned
Salafists stated that Cheikhani had been tortured recently
while in prison and was denied medical treatment. Local
press reports also stated that Salafist inmates had started a
hunger strike after Sidina's death to protest ongoing
mistreatment.
12. (C) Presidential pardon: Local press reports also
stated that 68 prisoners, some of them Salafists, would
receive a presidential pardon and be released. In a press
conference held a few hours after news of Sidina's death
spread, junta-designated Minister of Justice Bal Amadou
Tidjane denied that there was any relation between Sidina's
death and the amnesty. Comment: Tidjane's assertion that
there was "no connection" between the two events is hard to
swallow. Given the 2008 Amnesty International report
detailing torture in Mauritanian prisons, the junta was
probably eager to try and deflect any negative press. There
may be another factor at work as well; an NGO worker at the
main prison told Post (and local press reports corroborated)
that Nouakchott's prisons are extremely overcrowded. The
main prison, ironically located in the "Dar Naim"
neighborhood (Arabic for "House of Happiness") was built for
300 prisoners; it currently holds more than 1,200. Holding
an amnesty may be a way for the junta to ease overcrowding
(albeit slightly) and more importantly, try to gain favor
from the population ahead of elections. End comment.
13. (C) FNDD "mega-meeting": The FNDD obtained a permit to
hold a rally (which they termed a "mega-meeting") in the
Capital Stadium April 8. Turnout was large, though estimates
varied wildly: the FNDD claimed eight to ten thousand were
present, while the police stated four to five thousand were
present. RSO SD members estimated the crowd at about
3,000-3,500 people. In any case, attendance was strong,
considering it was an overt anti-junta event, and equaled or
rivaled that of the RFD rally held last week in the same
venue. The usual FNDD leaders were present, as well as five
leaders from RFD, whom National Assembly President Messaoud
Ould Boulkheir made sure to praise for their attendance.
(Note: Ahmed Ould Daddah is currently traveling abroad. End
note.) Boulkheir further called upon the people of
Nouadhibou and Selibaby to boycott upcoming visits from
General Aziz, and stated that Aziz "will not be president,
whatever he does."
14. (SBU) Aziz grants TV interview: Despite continuing
rumors about a possible delay for the June 6 presidential
elections, Aziz stated clearly in an interview April 8 with
the "France 24" satellite channel that elections will still
be held June 6. Moreover, according to him, "85-90% of
Mauritanians want these elections." (France 24 did two
interviews with Aziz, one in French and one in Arabic.)
Regarding his own possible candidacy in the upcoming
elections, Aziz was vague in both interviews, saying he was
still "thinking and reflecting on it." Regarding his
resignation from the military and President of the High State
Council, Aziz was vague in the French interview as well. In
the Arabic interview however, he was slightly more
forthcoming, saying "My resignation will be before April 22,
God willing... and the President of the Senate will be the
interim president, God willing, according to the
Constitution." Comment: Despite headlines in the local
press shouting Aziz's supposed announced candidacy, there
still has not been an official formal announcement from him
NOUAKCHOTT 00000261 003 OF 003
where he has said definitively that he is running (though
this is widely regarded as being a foregone conclusion). End
comment.
15. (C) Baba's dissidence from RFD: PolOff met April 8 with
RFD Vice President Kane Hamidou Baba who confirmed
disagreements with Ahmed Ould Daddah, but denied press
reports that he plans to resign from RFD, form a political
party, and run for president. Baba deplored the junta's
unilateral actions but made clear that he supports a
"participative approach" rather than a boycott.
HANKINS