ARAB MAGHREB DIRECTOR TIGHT LIPPED ABOUT WESTERN

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000453 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV WI MR SUBJECT: ARAB MAGHREB DIRECTOR TIGHT LIPPED ABOUT WESTERN SAHARA ISSUES Classified By: Ambassador Mark Boulware for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d) ¶1. (C) PolOff paid a courtesy visit on July 12 to Arab Maghreb Director Mohamed Ould Mekhale to inquire after UN SRSG for Western Sahara Chris Ross's visit to Mauritania on June 27. PolOff wanted to ask if the Secretary of State in charge of the Arab Maghreb had met with Ross, how the Mauritanians view the new UN initiative and process moving forward, and what kind of role they see themselves playing. Note: The Secretariat of State in charge of the Arab Maghreb is one of the Transitional Government of National Unity Ministries that falls under Front National pour la Defense de la Democratie (FNDD) purview. Secretary of State Amar Mohamed Ould Lemine is an FNDD appointee who replaced on June 26 pro-coup Secretary of State Mohamed Abdehramane Ould Mohamed Ahmed. Mekhale, originally a philosophy teacher of the "forgeron" (blacksmith) cast, has been working for the Secretariat for quite many years now and was appointed to his current position during President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi's term. End note. ¶2. (C) Mekhale stated neither he nor the new secretary of state met with Ross because Maghreb policy issues fall under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Note: According to press reports, Ross met with Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou. Mekhale did not confirm this information. Local press stated Mauritania was not on Ross' Maghreb tour itinerary due to the political crisis but was added at the last minute following the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity. End note. Mekhale explained the Secretariat of State in charge of the Arab Maghreb depends on the MFA and has no policy role. The Secretariat's mission is to "follow up" on the implementation of policy decisions made by the Union of Arab Maghreb's Council of Foreign Ministers. Mekhale explained that the Secretariat was created in accordance with Article 9 of the 1989 Treaty of Marrakech, which calls for the appointment, by each of the five Maghreb countries, of a member of government entirely devoted to coordination of Union of Arab Maghreb policies. ¶3. (C) PolOff asked Mekhale if he had heard any feedback about the meeting and about policy decisions. Mekhale asked PolOff to refer those questions to Minister Mohamedou at the MFA. Mekhale also avoided answering any questions about the main issues the Secretariat is currently focusing on. ¶4. (C) The non-response from a senior MFA official about Western Sahara policy is consistent with the running of the Foreign Ministry since the coup. Foreign Minister Ould Mohamedou is considered by much of his staff as arrogant. He is said to hold the ministry staff in disdain and to essentially act as a one-man Foreign Ministry. He takes almost all important meetings without a note-taker, so his staff is generally unaware of his position. On Western Sahara, the Mauritanians have traditionally taken a neutral position trying to avoid annoying either Morocco or Algeria. Although many northern Mauritanians are ethnically tied to Western Sahara, Mauritanian governments have normally emphasized neutrality while offering their good offices if ever asked -- which nobody has ever done. We do not anticipate this core position has changed. ¶5. (SBU) PolOff took advantage of the opportunity to ask Mekhale about his reaction to President Obama's Cairo and Ghana speeches. Mekhale responded he had watched and read the speeches and appreciated them. He stated he liked President Obama's choice of theme for his Ghana speech and thought it was very appropriate. Mekhale said he agrees with Obama that the promotion of transparency and good governance are key to strengthening democracy in Africa. An animated discussion about President Obama ensued and Mekhale opened up about the political crisis in Mauritania. In his view, Mauritania is experiencing the end of tribal politics. He stated he has always been interested in ways to introduce democracy in cultures that have no democratic bases, such as Mauritania's. As a blacksmith at the lowest end of Mauritania's cast society, he stressed he had no interest in perpetuating traditionalism. Nevertheless, for him, the only way to bring democracy to Mauritania and avoid a civil war is to use the military as a guarantor of the constitution and democratic values. As usual, PolOff was mystified by this argument, which is nevertheless common among Mauritanians, who believe that without military interference in politics, the country would fall apart. BOULWARE