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.

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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.

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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