CONTRARY TO SENEGALESE CLAIMS, FNDD AND AZIZ HAVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000342 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2019 TAGS: PGOV MR KDEM SUBJECT: CONTRARY TO SENEGALESE CLAIMS, FNDD AND AZIZ HAVE NOT REACHED AN AGREEMENT REF: NOUAKCHOTT 336 NOUAKCHOTT 00000342 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Mark M. Boulware, for reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Contrary to what Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio apparently implied to U.S. Ambassador to Senegal Marcia S. Bernicat, the FNDD has not struck a deal with Aziz. According to the Senegalese, all the elements are in place for an agreement but RFD President Ahmed Ould Daddah is reluctant. The FNDD's Mohamed Ould Maouloud told Ambassador Boulware that the mediators were arriving in Nouakchott May 20 to pursue meetings but that they had not contacted the FNDD with a decision about the pre-conditions nor a proposal. Meetings are scheduled tonight with all the parties to the crisis but the FNDD does not trust the Senegalese and is trying to get the international community involved. End summary. -------------- SO FAR, THERE'S NO AGREEMENT -------------- ¶2. (C) FNDD co-leader and UFP President Mohamed Ould Maouloud met with Ambassador on May 20 concerning the status of the Senegalese mediation. He mentioned that Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio had contacted the FNDD to say that AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra, UN SRSG for West Africa Said Djinnit and Qadhafi's special envoy Ravi Al-Madani were arriving in Nouakchott that evening to pursue negotiations. Nevertheless, Ould Maouloud complained that the FNDD had still not heard back from the mediators about the acceptance or not of pre-conditions set by FNDD for a second meeting, which included the liberation of political prisoners and suspension of the electoral agenda (Reftel). ¶3. (C) Ould Maouloud intimated that Gadio had told them that when he left Nouakchott to see Senegalese President Wade, Qadhafi had requested that mediators come to see him in Tripoli. Qadhafi wanted to agree on a solution with the mediators and impose it on the Mauritanians. Ould Maouloud stated Gadio had implied the Senegalese mediators were encountering difficulties with Qadhafi. Ould Maouloud stressed the FNDD planned to be tough and would not accept anything imposed by Qadhafi. ¶4. (C) According to Ould Maouloud, the African Union is being held hostage by Qadhafi. African Union representatives want to come to Nouakchott but are waiting for Qadhafi's authorization. ¶5. (C) Ould Maouloud said Gadio had come to Nouakchott on May 18 to talk with General Aziz and not with the FNDD. Rumor has it that the Senegalese wanted to reach an agreement with the junta and propose it to the FNDD. When the FNDD rejected it, they would be accused of being obstructive and the negotiations would close. ¶6. (C) Ould Maouloud said Gadio and the Libyan delegation will arrive in Nouakchott at 9:00pm and will meet at 9:30pm with the FNDD and RFD, and at 10:00pm with General Aziz's team. At 11:00pm a meeting will be held with all the parties involved. -------------- JUSTIFIED MISTRUST? -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador told Ould Maouloud that he had been informed all the elements for an agreement were in place and that the US hopes there will be a solution to the crisis. He encouraged the FNDD to negotiate. Ould Maouloud responded NOUAKCHOTT 00000342 002.2 OF 002 that the election date is the main bone of contention. A change in the date, he stressed, means nothing if it is not accompanied by appropriate measures. Those measures would include a revision of electoral lists, international election observers, and a new CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission). "We reject everything he has put in place," said Ould Maouloud. "We are willing to accept a suspension in the elections and to determine a date for the end of negotiations. A mere change in the election date would not be enough," said Maouloud. ¶8. (C) Ould Maouloud thinks the Senegalese need "serious support." He stated the FNDD does not trust them but they are cooperating because this is the "last chance" for a mediation. They want to see more international community involvement. Note: At the beginning of the meeting, Ould Maouloud mentioned the FNDD had met with all International Contact Group countries, except for Russia. They are looking for the International Contact Group to get involved in the negotiations. End note. ¶9. (C) The Ambassador encouraged Maouloud to remain open minded. He reassured him of the US commitment to finding a solution and its willingness to back with resources a consensual agreement satisfactory to all parties. He explained the Senegalese had contacted Ambassador Bernicat in Dakar and she had contacted Washington. "We want to see an agreement," Ambassador Boulware stressed. Note: The supposed agreement presented by Gadio to Ambassador Bernicat in Dakar calls for a two month delay in the elections, the formation of a national unity government, the recognition of President Abdallahi as President and his return to sign the national unity government decree. Abdallahi would then resign and President of the Senate Ba M'Bare would preside over the country until the elections. According to this agreement, General Aziz can be a presidential candidate in the new election. This plan was announced in the local press on May 4. End note. ¶10. (C) Comment: The Senegalese implied to Ambassador Bernicat in Dakar that the agreement between the FNDD and Aziz was a done deal but that Ould Daddah was still blocking a solution. Nevertheless, Ould Maouloud's statements make it clear that no agreement has been reached. The Senegalese may be over-optimistic in thinking they can deliver the FNDD, or maybe the FNDD is correct in its reservations that Aziz and the Senegalese want to present them with a unilateral plan and then accuse them of being "obstructive" when they refuse it. International support to ensure the success of the Senegalese mediation may indeed be necessary. End comment. BOULWARE