Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT422
2009-06-29 13:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:  

MAURITANIA: THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF

Tags:  PREL PGOV MR KDEM PINR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000422 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR KDEM PINR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF
NATIONAL UNITY IS UP AND RUNNING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000422

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR KDEM PINR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF
NATIONAL UNITY IS UP AND RUNNING


1. (SBU) Summary: Mauritanians and the international
community alike breathed a sigh of relief when President Sidi
Ould Cheikh Abdallahi signed in the late hours of June 24 the
decree forming a Transitional Government of National Unity,
followed by his voluntary resignation. This symbolic gesture
eased Mauritania's long-standing political stalemate and
opened the way for elections on July 18, in accordance with
the June 4 Dakar Accord. Half of the new government -- the
first national unity government in the history of Mauritania
-- was named by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's camp
(better known as "the majority"),including the key position
of Prime Minister. The majority reconfirmed all its
ministers, including controversial Prime Minister Moulaye
Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, a figure deemed too close to the coup
by the opposition. The remaining half of the government was
divided equally among Ahmed Ould Daddah's Rassemblement des
Forces Democratiques (RFD) and the Front National pour la
Defense de la Democratie (FNDD). The opposition is in charge
of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of
Communications, key positions responsibile for election
planning and considered crucial to ensure a free and fair
election. The Transitional Government of National Unity --
the consensual outcome of weeks of negotiations and
high-level diplomatic efforts -- will be in place for only 22
days. Despite its short shelf life and fragility, this
government will mark the first time in Mauritania an
establishment resulting from a coup d'etat has yielded to
calls to restore legality. End summary.

--------------
THE NEW GOVERNMENT
--------------


2. (U) The new transitional government is composed of 28
ministers. Ministerial posts were divided equally between
the FNDD/RFD pole and General Aziz's pole. The Transitional
Government of National Unity, the first in the history of
Mauritania, is composed of 19 white Moors, three black Moors,
seven Afro-Mauritanians (Pulaar and Soninke) and three women.
As is the tradition in Mauritania, Moors are the majority
(75.9%) but Afro-Mauritanians (24.1%) are well represented
compared to previous governments.

--------------
GENERAL AZIZ CONTROLS 50% OF THE GOVERNMENT

--------------


3. (U) General Aziz's camp holds 14 ministries in addition
to the key position of Prime Minister. Other ministries
include: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of
Justice, the Ministry of Government Services, Ministry of
Rural Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports,
Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Fisheries and
Maritime Economy, Ministry of Economic Affairs and
Development, Ministry of National Education, Ministry of
Commerce, Handicrafts and Tourism, Ministry of Hydraulics and
Sanitation. The majority also scored the positions of
Minister Counselor to the President of the Republic and the
Secretariat of State charged with the Modernization of the
Administration and New Technologies of Communication.


4. (U) The ministers already in place remained in their
posts. Aziz's decision to reconfirm Moulaye Ould Mohamed
Laghdaf as Prime Minister was controversial as the opposition
considered Laghdaf too close to the coup. Laghdaf, 51,
belongs to the prestigious Tajakant tribe from the
southwestern city of Hodh Chargui, an important electoral
region. In 2006, he served as Ambassador to Brussels and to
the European Union. Laghdaf is an engineer and holds a
doctorate degree in mechanics and physics from the University
of Brussels.

--------------
FNDD AND RFD SHARE THE REMAINING 50%
--------------


NOUAKCHOTT 00000422 002 OF 002



5. (U) The FNDD and RFD share the remaining 14 ministries.
The FNDD named the Minister of the Interior, a ministry that
plays an important role in election organization. Mohamed
Ould Rzeizime, the new minister of the interior, is a white
Moor of the Ouled Nasser tribe from Aioun. A former wali of
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, Rzeizime was Minister of the
Interior under President Abdallahi. Other FNDD-led
ministries include: Ministry of Oil, Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Housing and Urbanization, Ministry of Islamic
Affairs, Ministry of Women, Family and Children, and the
Secretariat of State in Charge of the Arab Maghreb.


6. (U) The Ministry of Islamic Affairs is headed by the
islamist Moctar Ould Mohamed Moussa of Tawassoul. A white
Moor from Trarza Idekoub tribe he was a former Ambassador and
founding member of the moderate islamic Tawassoul party. His
nomination was at the heart of a bitter last minute dispute
between Aziz and the opposition as General Aziz refused to
accept that an islamist heads this ministry.


7. (U) The RFD obtained the important Ministry of Defense,
the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Communications.
Other ministries include the Ministry of Industry and Mines
and the Ministry of Transportation as well as the positions
of Minister Secretary General to the Presidency, and
Secretary of State Charged of Professional Training.


8. (U) The Ministry of Defense is headed by Yadaly Ould
Cheikh, a white Moor from the Oulad Biyeri tribe in
Boutilimit. A cousin of Ahmed Ould Daddah, he was a former
minister of Justice under Ould Haidalla and former
Administrative Director of the Mauritanian-Libyan Maritime
Economy company. He was in prison under Taya and was a
victim of torture.


9. (U) The Ministry of Finance falls under Sidi Ould Salem.
A Haratine from the North, he was the director of SOCOGIM
when the coup happened.


10. (U) The Ministry of Communications falls under Ahmed
Ould Ahmed Abdou, a staunch Ould Taya detractor. Abdou is
reputed for his strong character, which many say will be
useful in guaranteeing all candidates equal access to the
official press. Note: Aziz named all official press
directors. End note.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


11. (SBU) Fragile as it is, the new Transitional Government
of National Unity marks a revolutionary moment in Mauritanian
politics. It is the first time in the history of this
coup-ridden country that a regime has accepted to include the
opposition in the government. Nevertheless, post foresees
future problems. The Transitional Government of National
Unity's success depends on the parties' willingness to work
consensually and in good faith towards elections. So far,
the road towards consensus has been rocky. Heavy
international community involvement and encouragement will be
needed to ensure the government advances and to avoid a total
blockage of institutions. End comment.
HANKINS