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