MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF MAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000374

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF MAY
31-JUNE 4

REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 368

B. NOUAKCHOTT 370

C. NOUAKCHOTT 369

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


1. (C) Summary: Once again, the Senegalese mediation
dominated the political scene in Mauritania for the week of
May 31 to June 4. To the surprise of many, a tentative
agreement was reached in Dakar June 2. President Wade and
the parties to the crisis are scheduled to officially sign
the agreement in Nouakchott on June 4. Mauritanians across
the board are relieved with the outcome despite the remaining
challenges. Additionally, Prime Minister Waghef and other
political prisoners may be released soon. In other news,
Libyans supposedly delivered arms to the High State Council
(HSC) and Al Qaeda has a new Mauritanian emir. President
Obama's speech to the Muslim nation resonated positively with
Mauritanians and electoral lists have finally been published.
End summary.


2. (SBU) Trip to Nouadhibou: EmbOffs traveled May 31 to
June 1 to the economic capital Nouadhibou to meet political
actors and assess the mood ahead of elections (Refs A and B,
Septel).


3. (C) Agreement reached: A tentative agreement was
reached in Dakar on June 2 (Ref C),and initialed by the
three main actors (General Aziz, Ahmed Ould Daddah, and FNDD
president Jemil Ould Mansour). The official signing,
originally scheduled to be held on June 3 in Nouakchott, was
rescheduled for June 4. The press reported the delay was due
to Senegalese President Wade's "busy calendar" but Ambassador
Boulware learned there were issues pending in the negotiation
such as the release of political prisoners. Local media
outlets reported in the afternoon of June 4 that Prime
Minister Waghef and other political prisoners could be
released later in the day.


4. (U) Maouloud calls for turning the page: In an FNDD
press conference held in Nouakchott on June 3, FNDD co-leader
and UFP president Mohamed Ould Maouloud thanked President
Abdallahi, Ahmed Ould Daddah, and others. Notably, he also
thanked all parties, including General Aziz, for the
concessions that were made to arrive at an agreement, and
called for "turning the page" on the past.


5. (SBU) Supporters say Vall will run: Several media
outlets reported that Colonel (and former president) Ely Ould
Mohamed Vall will run in the upcoming presidential elections.
Supposedly he made the statement to some of his supporters
at his house June 2. Comment: Many Mauritanians and
independent observers regard Vall as the only person in
Mauritania who could mount a serious challenge to Aziz in an
election. Nevertheless, Vall is technically still in the
military, as his request to retire was denied by General Aziz
a few months ago. He is therefore ineligible to run
according to the Mauritanian constitution. End comment.


6. (C) Ambassador meets with Lemrabott Mohamed Moctar:
Moctar, sales representative for "Rose" milk, a German
company in Mauritania, said in a meeting with Ambassador on
June 3 that the resolution of the political crisis in
Mauritania taught Mauritanians that "one can demand that the
law is applied and succeed." Moctar called for more U.S.
involvement in Mauritania to isolate the military from power
and close the vicious cycle of coups d'etat.


7. (C) Ambassador meets with Lemrabott Abdennahi:
Abdennahi, former counselor to Abdallahi's Prime Minister,
met with Ambassador June 3 and expressed his satisfaction
with the Dakar agreement. He called for a larger U.S. role
in Mauritania and highlighted the challenges ahead, including
the role of the High State Council and military involvement
in politics.

NOUAKCHOTT 00000374 002 OF 002




8. (U) Libyans deliver arms to Mauritania: According to
local press reports, a Libyan airplane landed in Nouachott
International Airport on May 31. The Mauritanian security
forces prohibited all access to the area, which has sparked
all sorts of speculations as to the contents of the airplane.
The press has speculated about an arms delivery to the junta.


9. (U) Al Qaeda recruits a new Mauritanian emir: Algerian
press reported that Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb recruited
Mauritanian citizen Abderrahmane Ebi Ansi Al Chinguitty as a
new leader. In remarks published on the internet, Al
Chinguitty threatened American and European interests in
Mauritania as well as former President Ould Taya, Ely Ould
Mohamed Vall and General Aziz, who he accused of working for
"the crusaders." Al Chinguitty also announced his opposition
to the democratization process in Mauritania.


10. (U) Electoral list finally available: The Ministry of
the Interior finally published the long-awaited electoral
list for the now postponed June 6 election. According to the
list there are 1,183,455 voters and 2,485 voting polls in
Mauritania. 20,465 voters registered to vote outside the
country in 63 voting polls located in 19 countries. Note:
The online link trumpeted by state-run media still does not
work. End note.


11. (SBU) Mauritanians approve of President Obama's speech:
Embassy Nouakchott hosted a live screening of President
Obama's June 4 speech to the Muslim world in Cairo. Imams,
politicians, journalists and civil society were present and
largely approved of the President's address (Septel).


12. (U) General Aziz suspends his campaign: On June 3,
General Aziz announced the suspension of all campaigning
activities. In Nouakchott, Aziz supporters took down tents
and electoral paraphernalia.
BOULWARE