Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT345
2009-05-22 14:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:  

OULD DADDAH'S RESERVATIONS: THE SENEGALESE WANT A

Tags:  PGOV KDEM MR 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000345 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MR
SUBJECT: OULD DADDAH'S RESERVATIONS: THE SENEGALESE WANT A
COSMETIC SOLUTION

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 342

NOUAKCHOTT 00000345 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Mark M. Boulware, for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000345

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MR
SUBJECT: OULD DADDAH'S RESERVATIONS: THE SENEGALESE WANT A
COSMETIC SOLUTION

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 342

NOUAKCHOTT 00000345 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Mark M. Boulware, for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: According to RFD President Ahmed Ould
Daddah, anti-coup forces are currently on standby following a
May 20 meeting with Senegalese mediators. The opposition has
still not received a firm response regarding pre-conditions
for continued negotiations. If the response to their demands
is positive, further meetings may be held on the evening of
May 20. Ould Daddah expressed reservations about the
mediation, stating that the Senegalese were more interested
in a "cosmetic solution" than a consensual solution that
tackled the real issues and that led to free and fair
elections. The FNDD's and RFD's positions seem to be unified
and firm meanwhile General Aziz remains publicly committed to
June 6 elections but has delayed the start of his campaign by
24 hours End summary.


2. (C) Ambassador met May 20 with Daddah for an update on
the Senegalese mediation. Daddah, like FNDD co-leader and
UFP President Mohamed Ould Maouloud, stressed the importance
of liberating the political prisoners and suspending the
electoral agenda as pre-conditions for negotiations.


3. (C) Daddah confirmed information provided earlier by
Maouloud that Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane
Gadio had disclosed he was encountering problems with the
Libyans (Reftel). He said Gadio wanted to know if he could
count on the Mauritanians to move forward with the mediation.


4. (C) A meeting took place May 20 between Daddah, Maouloud
and the mediation delegation composed of Gadio, AU Peace and
Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra, UN SRSG for West
Africa Said Djinnit and Muammar Qadhafi's special envoy Ravi
Al-Madani. The mediators insisted on a joint FNDD/RFD
face-to-face meeting with Aziz's group. The opposition
refused, as they are afraid Aziz's camp would exploit such a
meeting in the press to their advantage. The FNDD and RFD
stressed the importance of Aziz fulfilling their
pre-conditions before starting to negotiate a solution.
Daddah also agreed with Maouloud that a delay in the
elections was necessary to revise the electoral lists, to
form the electoral college, and do everything necessary to

ensure the elections would be free and transparent. This in
itself would represent a delay of at least five months,
according to him. Forming a government of national unity
would also take at least 15 days. For Daddah, a minimum of
six months would be necessary to guarantee a free and
transparent election, but he would be willing to accept five
months instead of six as a concession to Aziz. Daddah also
pointed out the problem of the Presidential Security
Battalion (BASEP) and how to ensure it becomes a unit focused
on providing presidential security and not regime security.


5. (C) "They want to come up with a cosmetic solution,"
stated Daddah. According to Daddah, Aziz currently has two
choices -- imposing his own solution or accepting the start
of an equitable and reasonable dialogue. Daddah stressed
that the RFD and the FNDD will not let themselves be used to
legitimize Aziz's election. Note: Aziz held a press
conference the afternoon of May 20 stating that the election
will not be delayed and that the campaign would start on May
21 in Kiffa. However, he did offer a token concession,
saying he would delay his own campaign for 24 hours to "give
the talks a chance." The other three presidential candidates
will begin their campaigns at midnight on May 21 as
originally planned. End note.


6. (C) "We are currently on standby," summarized Daddah.
The mediators said they would call back with an answer about
the pre-conditions and, if the response was positive, they
could have meetings later in the evening. He pointed out

NOUAKCHOTT 00000345 002.2 OF 002


that Gadio seemed more reasonable and understood both parties
had to make concessions. Daddah, like Maouloud, wants the
international community, particularly the United States and
the European Union, to provide guarantees for a consensual
solution. "We cannot accept a guarantee from a neighboring
country," he said. The Ambassador responded that he could
not commit the USG as a guarantor but reassured Daddah of the
US's desire to be useful. He affirmed that the US wants to
see a consensual solution to the crisis and that elections
resulting from a consensus should be held as soon as humanly
possible.


7. (C) Daddah asked the Ambassador to approach his French
counterpart. He said the French could be influential as one
of their agents was a close Aziz advisor. Comment: Local
press accuses First Secretary and DGSE member Jean-Michel
Antona at the Embassy of France of counseling Aziz. End
comment.


8. (C) Comment: Although both Daddah and the FNDD's
Maouloud highlight the lack of progress on the release of
political prisoners and the suspension of the unilateral
election campaign, they admitted that they were waiting to be
called back for further negotiations on the evening of May 20
and reports indicate that further talks did take place. There
are still no visible signs of an immenent deal but neither
have talks yet broken down. While there may be some behind
the scenes progress, the various players are also likely to
be maneuvering to shift the blame for any eventual failure.
End comment.
BOULWARE