MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000431 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2014 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL SNAR PHUM MR SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 28 - APRIL 2 REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 419 ¶B. NOUAKCHOTT 422 ¶C. NOUAKCHOTT 420 ¶D. NOUAKCHOTT 423 ¶E. NOUAKCHOTT 428 ¶F. NOUAKCHOTT 306 Classified By: Ambassador Mark M. Boulware for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: This week in Nouakchott, the August 6 coup d'etat came to an official end with the formation of a Transitional Government of National Unity and President Abdallahi's resignation, in accordance with the Dakar Accord. The new government is up and running but maintaining consensus and organizing free and fair elections will be a considerable challenge. The African Union reinstated Mauritania's membership and the Arab League announced it will organize an international conference focused on Mauritania after the election. In the human rights and freedom of speech front, Mauritania's record continued worsening this week. Taqadoumy director Hanevy Ould Dah is still in jail, Mauritel has blocked website Taqadoumy, SOS Esclaves is fighting to free an eight year old girl enslaved by a family in Toujounine and victims of the "passif humanitaire" events are still awaiting compensation promised by General Aziz. The northern city of Zouerate was flooded last week due to heavy rains and a Mission team will travel there next week to assess damages. End summary. ¶2. (C) The end of the coup: The Transitional Government of National Unity has been formed by decree of President Abdallahi, who then resigned (Ref A and B). ¶3. (C) The scramble towards elections: The Transitional Government has started planning elections with the assistance of the African Union and the International Contact Group (Ref C, D, E and septel). ¶4. (U) Arab League reacts: On June 30, the Arab League expressed its satisfaction with the events in Mauritania and highlighted its contribution in bringing the opposing poles closer together. It also announced it will be sending a delegation headed by Deputy Secretary General Chadhli Thaqavi to closely follow the presidential elections. The Arab League is planning to organize an International Conference focused on Mauritania following the election. ¶5. (U) First heroin seizure: Mauritanian police arrested five drug-dealers carrying one kilogram of heroin. This is the first heroin seizure in the history of Mauritania. The drug-dealers, including three Mauritanians, a Tunisian and a Moroccan, were headed to Mali. ¶6. (U) Mauritanian journalist still in jail and Mauritel blocks Taqadoumy: Taqadoumy website director Hanevy Ould Dah, arrested on June 18 on charges of defamation, has been transferred to the Dar Naim prison. Reporters Without Borders denounced Hanevy's arrest as an "abuse of judicial procedures aimed at silencing Taqadoumy." Hanevy, who potentially faces a sentence of five years in prison, will be judged next month. Since June 28, Mauritel subscribers have not be able to access the Taqadoumy website. Mauritel is Mauritania's main internet provider. ¶7. (U) Passif humanitaire victims still awaiting payment: Fifteen victims of the events of 89-91 are still awaiting compensation promised by General Aziz. The victims are concerned that, now that the political situation has changed, they will never received the compensation agreed upon with the High State Council as a resolution to the "passif humanitaire" question. The passif humanitaire is the purge of Afro-Mauritanians from the government and the military that resulted in mass killings and expulsions to Senegal. ¶8. (U) African Union reintegrates Mauritania: On June 30, the African Union (AU) decided to reinstate Mauritania as a member. Mauritanian AU membership had been suspended on the wake of the August 2008 coup d'etat. NOUAKCHOTT 00000431 002 OF 002 ¶9. (U) New slavery case: SOS Esclaves discovered a slavery case in Toujounine, a Nouakchott suburb. The victim is Vatimetou Mint Mata Moulana, an eight year old child who works as a maid for the Ahmed Ould Cheikh family. The family stated that Vatimetou is not their slave but someone else's. No legal action has been taken against the family. A demonstration by anti-slavery militants took place on June 28 in front of the Nouakchott Minors' Brigade to protest against slavery and child abuse. Vatimetou's case is the second concerning young girls this year. In April, SOS Esclaves unsuccessfully attempted to remove 10-year old Hana Mint Maria from a slavery relationship with a Nouakchott family (Ref F). ¶10. (U) Zouerate floods: Heavy rains (107 mm in less than 48 hours) the week of June 14 caused considerable damages in Zouerate in the Northern region of Tiris-Zemmour. A DoD team will visit Zouerate the week of July 6 to assess damages. According to press reports, hundreds have lost their homes and the population is in need of basic commodities. HANKINS