Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT369
2009-06-03 12:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:  

TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED IN DAKAR, BUT NO

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO MR 
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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).

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