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