NOUADHIBOU CENI: FINGERS CROSSED FOR CONSENSUS BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000368

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MR
SUBJECT: NOUADHIBOU CENI: FINGERS CROSSED FOR CONSENSUS BUT
MOVING FORWARD

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 357

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


1. (C) Summary: In a visit to Independent National
Electoral Commission (CENI) headquarters in Nouadhibou,
EmbOffs saw comparable conditions to those found in the
Trarza CENI (Ref A). Like their Trarza colleagues,
Nouadhibou CENI representatives wished there would be a
consensus but keep preparing for the June 6 election. They
did not flag any major concerns or lack of resources but
highlighted the current electoral campaign is much less
dynamic than the 2007 campaign. End summary.


2. (C) In an extremely cordial meeting, Nouadhibou CENI
representatives told PolOff and PolAsst May 31 that they
would prefer the political crisis is solved before the
elections take place, but continue preparing for the June 6
deadline. Ahmed Ould Khoubah, regional commission president
and 2007 CENI member, was accompanied by CENI veterans
Abderrahmane Kone and Mohamed Ould M'Boirick. Anne Bintou
Cire Ly, a new hire in charge of the departmental commission,
was also present. According to Khoubah, 90% of those working
in the Nouadhibou elections worked in the 2007 elections and
received National Democratic Institute (NDI) training. CENI
is also providing training to new hires. Comment: On a
positive note, it seems that the 2007 election created a new
class of electoral technicians in Mauritania who are now
using their knowledge -- sometimes acquired through training
provided by Western organizations -- to plan the June 6
election and train others. End comment.


3. (C) Khoubah stated there are 115,000 voters and 66
polling stations in Nouadhibou. Reading from a detailed
report, he informed EmbOffs that electoral lists have been
double checked for irregularities and posted, electoral
material has been received and electoral cards are currently
being distributed. Comment: The administration is
distributing new cards following updates to the electoral
list resulting from the recent electoral census. Voters can
pick up their electoral cards at designated locations during
the campaign period. There have been reports of very low
electoral card withdrawal rates, which the opposition
considers an indication of low participation. End comment.
In response to PolOff's question about whether the card
withdrawal rate could be a sign of the population's boycott
of the election, Khoubah explained that voters do not need
their electoral cards to vote. Electoral cards can be picked
up the day of the election and voters only need an
identification card to verify their name against those on the
list. Comment: In a meeting with the RFD, they claimed that
traditionally, Mauritanians do pick up their cards early and
the fact they have not done so this time means they are not
interested. End comment. Khoubah agreed to show EmbOffs a
sample copy of the ballot.


4. (C) "There are no big problems so far," stated Khoubah.
He said CENI offices are equipped with computers and printers
and CENI members have vehicles that allow them to move around
their areas to monitor the campaign. Nevertheless, he
stressed far off areas where there is no cell phone reception
lack means of communications, but the administration promised
to provide them satellite phones the day before the election.
M'Boirick highlighted the limits of transparency in CENI's
work by reminding EmbOffs that the electoral census had been
conducted without CENI supervision and that they could not
vouch for its quality. Ly also stressed the CENI, like
everybody else, was aware of food distributions by
presidential candidates.


5. (C) Khoubah and the others intimated that the current
campaign is very different from the 2007 one. They said
Mauritanians are eager for a solution to the crisis but are
not enthusiastic about the elections. The main difference
between now and 2007, they agreed, is that there was no

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crisis in 2007. They said the participation rate in 2007 was
74% and declined to predict the participation rate in this
election. "We have no idea how the boycott will look like,"
they stated, "but suspect people will just stay home as
opposed to voting blank." They ended the meeting by sharing
with EmbOffs descriptions of sketches by a Mauritanian
comedian who makes fun of politicians and uses humor to talk
about taboo topics.


6. (C) Comment: In Nouadhibou as in the Trarza, CENI is
marching steadily towards the June 6 election. CENI
representatives seemed politically neutral and focused on
their technical work but hinted they are not naive about the
true nature of these elections. End comment.
BOULWARE