PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HAMIDOU BABA KANE: "YES WE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000360

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PINR MR
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HAMIDOU BABA KANE: "YES WE
KANE"

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 271

Classified By: Ambassador Mark M. Boulware for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Hamidou Baba Kane is one of two
Afro-Mauritanian candidates in the upcoming June 6
presidential elections. The Vice President of the National
Assembly (and former Vice President in Ahmed Ould Daddah's
RFD party),Kane claims he is still a member of RFD, even
though Daddah expelled him. When asked about rumors stating
that Aziz would appoint Kane as President of the National
Assembly, Kane issued a weak non-denial, only increasing
speculation that he is expecting something tangible in return
for his participation in elections that he has no hope of
winning. End summary.


2. (C) PolAsst met with presidential candidate Hamidou Baba
Kane on May 21. Kane is one of two Afro-Mauritanians running
for president in the June 6 elections (the other is Ibrahima
Sarr, Ref A). Kane is Vice President of the National
Assembly. He was also Vice President in Ahmed Ould Daddah's
RFD party, before being expelled by Daddah from the party on
April 11, after Daddah accused him of "sowing discord within
the ranks of the party" and "collaborating with the military
authority currently in place."


3. (C) Campaign delay: Kane had just returned from a
meeting with Senegalese Foreign Minister Gadio and two other
presidential candidates to discuss a possible delay in the
start of the campaign. Measuring his words carefully, Kane
began by saying that Gadio had proposed a 48-hour delay in
the start of the campaign in an effort to continue talks.
Kane said he and candidate Ibrahima Sarr had "no problem" in
accepting a delay, but Sghair Ould M'Bareck did not want to
delay his campaign. Comment: Tellingly, Aziz himself was
not present at the meeting (and subsequently began his
campaign that evening in Kiffa). In any event, the plan went
nowhere, and the campaigns began as originally scheduled.
End comment.


4. (C) His candidacy: Turning to his campaign and
candidacy, Kane said the first thing he would do as president
was "form a national unity government, renew the political
class, and instill good governance." Additionally, he would
undertake educational reform, saying that the youth were an
important part of his campaign. In the same vein, he
reiterated his campaign slogan -- "Yes We Kane" -- that
attempts to tap the enthusiasm that President Obama's
election unleashed in Africa and the rest of the world. On
the foreign policy front, he asserted that Mauritania had
three identities -- Islamic, Arab, and African. Therefore,
its foreign policy must reflect this reality as well; he
vowed to return Mauritania to the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS). (Note: Mauritania withdrew from
ECOWAS in 1999. End note.) He described Europe as a
"privileged partner," but for the United States, all he said
was that due to its power and influence, "relations must be
taken into account," and the two countries should work
together on terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal
immigration. Comment: PolAsst had the distinct impression
that Kane was merely saying what he thought the U.S. wanted
to hear. End comment.


5. (C) The RFD split: Asked about his status with the RFD,
Kane declared "I am still a member of RFD," conveniently
overlooking Daddah's expulsion of him from the party.
However, he admitted there was a "divergence" between him and
Daddah, and that they had not spoken to each other in months.
Attacking Daddah directly, he said "I didn't change my
ideals for personal ambitions" like Daddah did.
Nevertheless, he claimed "it was not my intention to break
apart the RFD." Comment: Kane is either extremely naive,
which is unlikely, or he was fully aware of the chaos and
divisions his candidacy would cause within the RFD. End
comment.

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6. (C) President of the National Assembly: PolAsst asked
about rumors that said in the event of an Aziz electoral
victory, Aziz would dissolve parliament and designate Kane as
President of the National Assembly. Kane averted his gaze
and said simply, "My ambition is for President of the
Republic, not for President of the National Assembly."


7. (C) Comment: Watching carefully what he says, Kane comes
across as someone jockeying for position. He surely realizes
that he has no chance of winning the election against Aziz,
and having burned his bridges with the RFD, is standing as a
candidate in the hope of gaining something tangible. It is
almost certain Aziz or his supporters are assisting Kane; in
what capacity, however, is unknown. His weak non-denial of
having interest in the Presidency of the National Assembly
only fuels speculation that there is a quid pro quo agreement
between Kane and Aziz -- you help legitimize my election, and
I'll give you a prominent position in government. End
comment.
BOULWARE