MAURITANIAN ELECTION CHRONICLES FOR JULY 2 -- ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000433 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MR SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN ELECTION CHRONICLES FOR JULY 2 -- ON TRACK Classified By: Ambassador Mark M. Boulware for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Maouloud complains about electoral list revision timeframe: On June 30, Maouloud complained to Annadif and the ICG that the original ten-day extraordinary electoral list revision had been shortened to four days. The revision, a crucial step towards transparency and confidence building, was originally scheduled from June 26 to July 5. The Ministry of the Interior published a decree announcing the revision dates from June 29 to July 2. ICG decided to extend the revision beyond July 2. Citizens legally entitled to vote but who were not on the list now have the opportunity to register. ¶2. (U) Constitutional Council receives and approves ten candidacies: The Constitutional Council received and approved the following ten candidacies: Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Kane Hamidou Baba, Ibrahima Moktar Sarr, Sghair Ould MBareck, Ahmed Ould Mohameden Ould Daddah, Mohamed Jemil Ould Brahim Ould Mansour, Ely Mohamed Vall Eleya, Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, Hamady Ould Meimou, and Saleh Ould Mohamedou Ould Hanena. On July 1, presidential candidate Kane Hamidou Baba contested Ely Mohamed Vall's candidacy on the grounds that Vall is still an active duty military officer. Note: Mauritanian electoral candidates have 24 hours following the candidacy deadline to challenge each other's candidacies. End note. The Armed Forces Staff also sent a note to the Council confirming Vall was still an officer and, as such, ineligible to run for office. On July 1, the Constitutional Council dismissed Baba's complaint and confirmed Vall's candidacy. Rumor says that President Abdallahi personally signed Vall's resignation during Vall's recent visit to Lemden. Others claim that Vall, as a former head of state, is automatically disqualified to serve in the armed forces. ¶3. (C) CENI issue solved: After much bickering between the majority and the FNDD/RFD to choose a consensual CENI president, vice-president and an extra member of civil society, the parties finally came to an agreement on July 1. Each pole drafted a list of ten candidates and Annadif and the ICG guided them in choosing consensual figures among common candidates present on the three lists. The process was not without pain as General Aziz's camp insisted on maintaining the current CENI president and vice-president on the grounds that changing those key positions at the last minute would disrupt the CENI. They also argued that they were entitled to choosing the president and vice-president because their pole only got to propose four members as opposed to the eight chosen by the opposition. Note: According to the Dakar Accord, each pole names four CENI members and the three poles choose the president, vice-president and an extra member consensually among members of civil society. End note. The FNDD/RFD also created waves by attempting to withdraw their support for candidates on their list that were also on Aziz's list. After much back and fourth, Sid'Ahmed Ould Deye was chosen as president and Hamdi Ould Mahjob as vice president. Other members include: Ahmed Salem Ould Bouhebeyni, Ahmed Deya Ould Mohamed El Moctar, Ahmed Ould Neinny, Ely Ould Boubout, Oumoul Khairy Kane, and Hamoud Ould Bouh. ¶4. (U) Electoral campaign opens: The electoral campaign kicks off today. ¶5. (C) ICG thanks former CENI president: Annadif invited outgoing CENI President Professor Cheikh Saad Bouh Camara to the ICG morning meeting to thank him for his hard work and to reassure him that the decision to replace him was political and in no way a reflection of his competence and skills. Professor Camara made a call to the new president and the international community to ensure CENI neutrality. The ICG requested a courtesy call with the new CENI this afternoon. HANKINS