TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED IN DAKAR, BUT NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000369 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO MR SUBJECT: TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED IN DAKAR, BUT NO OFFICIAL SIGNING IN NOUAKCHOTT YET Classified By: Ambassador Mark M. Boulware for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) The agreement: Representatives of the three main parties to the Mauritanian crisis -- General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Ould Daddah and his RFD party, and the anti-coup FNDD group -- tentatively reached an agreement the evening of June 2 in Dakar, after six days of intense negotiations. The final agreement is scheduled to be signed officially by the three parties in Nouakchott on June 3. The main points of the agreement stipulate a delay in the first round of presidential elections until July 18. If a second round is needed, it would be held on August 1. A national unity government is to be formed, no later than Saturday, June 6. President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi will return to sign a decree authorizing the formation of the national unity government, and then resign. The national unity government will comprise 26 ministers, with 13 ministers designated by General Aziz, and the other 13 ministers by the FNDD and RFD. General Aziz retains the right to designate the Prime Minister (but only after consultation with the opposition),whereas the FNDD and RFD will designate the Ministers of Interior, Finance, and Communication. Electoral lists will be reviewed, while the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) will be subject to reappointment by the three parties. Additionally, political parties will have equal access to state-run media. ¶2. (SBU) Reactions: Ahmed Ould Daddah described the agreement as "a victory for the Mauritanian people." General Aziz has yet to make any public comments regarding the agreement. Local media has been almost universally positive regarding the agreement. Representative headlines in the press on June 3 were "The long-anticipated agreement is finally signed!" (Le Renovateur),"Dakar saves Nouakchott: The agreement has been signed!" (Nouakchott Info),and "End of the Mauritanian crisis: The difficult Dakar agreement" (L'Authentique Quotidien). The official state-run newspaper "Horizons," however, had no mention of the agreement whatsoever. ¶3. (C) Comment: The announcement of the agreement sparked widespread relief among Mauritanians, fatigued by nearly 10 months of political instability and uncertainty. However, there has been no official declaration of a suspension in the presidential campaign, which appeared to progress normally the evening of June 2, with loudspeakers continuing to blast music, and a large outdoor concert held by Aziz supporters. Additionally, there has been no further information as of mid-day June 3 regarding the time, location, or participants of the signing ceremony in Nouakchott. The agreement itself also raises numerous questions -- how exactly will all the ministerial posts be divided between the three camps? Is holding elections on July 18 even feasible, given the quickly approaching rainy season that leaves the south of the country largely inaccessible? What will be the status of the High State Council? Does Aziz intend to stick to the agreement? What about the release of Prime Minister Waghef and other political prisoners? Given all the unresolved issues, "cautious optimism" would appear to be the catch-phrase of the day. Nevertheless, there is no denying that the tentative agreement is a major breakthrough in the Mauritanian crisis. End comment. BOULWARE