Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT491
2009-07-24 12:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
IT'S OFFICIAL -- CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL CONFIRMS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000491
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY ADDING CLASSIFIED BY STATEMENT
AND REASON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MR
SUBJECT: IT'S OFFICIAL -- CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL CONFIRMS
AZIZ' ELECTION VICTORY
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR FOR REASONS 1.4 (B & D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000491
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY ADDING CLASSIFIED BY STATEMENT
AND REASON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MR
SUBJECT: IT'S OFFICIAL -- CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL CONFIRMS
AZIZ' ELECTION VICTORY
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR FOR REASONS 1.4 (B & D).
1. (U) The Mauritanian Constitutional Council on July 23
issued its ruling ratifying the results of Mauritania's July
18 presidential elections definitively establishing General
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz as president elect. Prior to
ratifying the election, the Constitutional Council addressed
the complaints filed by candidates Ould Daddah, Ould
Boulkheir and Ould Mohamed Vall. Citing the statements of
the Ministry of Interior, the National Independent Electoral
Commission (CENI),and other election observers, the Council
dismissed the complaints filed by Ould Daddah and Ould Vall
as being general denunciations without material evidence of
irregularities. Ould Mohamed Vall's complaint was dismissed
for an unspecified error in how it was filed. The
Mauritanian Constitution provides for no appeal of the
decisions made by the Constitutional Council meaning that the
electoral process is NOW officially concluded.
2. (U) Also on June 23, the President of the CENI, Sid'Ahmed
Ould Dey, tendered is resignation to the Prime Minister. He
issued a statement saying, "Having observed with many others
that the presidential elections of July 18 had proceeded
normally in a technical sense, the complaints that I received
as well as the substance of the appeals presented to the
Constitutional Council, had planted a seed of doubt in my
spirit concerning the reliability of the elections on a
fundamental level. For that reason and to not be in
contradiction with my conscience, I have decided to resign my
presidency of the CENI."
3. (SBU) With the election results NOW certified and final,
Mission strongly recommends that the Department issue a
statement recognizing President-Elect Aziz' victory. We note
that others such as the French and United Nations have
followed the U.S. lead in reserving a final statement until
the decision of the Constitutional Council. With that
decision NOW in hand, we expect multiple international
statements. The absence of a U.S. statement would be noted
and complicate the return to normal relations with the
Mauritanian Government. Post recommends a statement along
the following lines:
The United States notes the definitive decision of
Mauritania,s Constitutional Council declaring that Mohamed
Ould Abdel Aziz has been elected president. Despite a
certain number of irregularities, the Constitutional Council,
like international observers, has determined that the
presidential elections of July 18 reflected the general will
of the Mauritanian people. We congratulate former General
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on his victory and look forward to
working with his government on the multiple challenges facing
his country. The Dakar Accord succeeded in building the
necessary basis of national consensus to return Mauritania to
constitutional legitimacy and afforded the Mauritanian people
the opportunity to freely choose their own leader. We call
on President-Elect Aziz as well as all of Mauritania's
political leaders to continue to work together constructively
and respectfully in the interests on their people.
4. (C) In it certainly too early to read the nature of the
new Aziz government but the General has, up to now, acted
responsibly and said the right things about being the
"President of ALL Mauritanians" and suggesting that some
opposition ministers in the Government of National Unity may
carry over into his next government. It is also suggested
that he will work with the FNDD's Messaoud Ould Boulkheir as
the "Leader of the Opposition" (a formal cabinet-rank
position in Mauritania and as President of the National
Assembly. The hand appears to be extended, even as Ould
Boulkheir and Ould Daddah continue to denounce the election
results. A correct and encouraging U.S. statement may help
cement the positive tendencies we are seeing. Department may
also wish to prepare a letter of congratulations to
President-Elect Aziz.
5. (C) The Ambassador will seek a courtesy call on the
President-Elect on Saturday, July 25.
BOULWARE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY ADDING CLASSIFIED BY STATEMENT
AND REASON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MR
SUBJECT: IT'S OFFICIAL -- CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL CONFIRMS
AZIZ' ELECTION VICTORY
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR FOR REASONS 1.4 (B & D).
1. (U) The Mauritanian Constitutional Council on July 23
issued its ruling ratifying the results of Mauritania's July
18 presidential elections definitively establishing General
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz as president elect. Prior to
ratifying the election, the Constitutional Council addressed
the complaints filed by candidates Ould Daddah, Ould
Boulkheir and Ould Mohamed Vall. Citing the statements of
the Ministry of Interior, the National Independent Electoral
Commission (CENI),and other election observers, the Council
dismissed the complaints filed by Ould Daddah and Ould Vall
as being general denunciations without material evidence of
irregularities. Ould Mohamed Vall's complaint was dismissed
for an unspecified error in how it was filed. The
Mauritanian Constitution provides for no appeal of the
decisions made by the Constitutional Council meaning that the
electoral process is NOW officially concluded.
2. (U) Also on June 23, the President of the CENI, Sid'Ahmed
Ould Dey, tendered is resignation to the Prime Minister. He
issued a statement saying, "Having observed with many others
that the presidential elections of July 18 had proceeded
normally in a technical sense, the complaints that I received
as well as the substance of the appeals presented to the
Constitutional Council, had planted a seed of doubt in my
spirit concerning the reliability of the elections on a
fundamental level. For that reason and to not be in
contradiction with my conscience, I have decided to resign my
presidency of the CENI."
3. (SBU) With the election results NOW certified and final,
Mission strongly recommends that the Department issue a
statement recognizing President-Elect Aziz' victory. We note
that others such as the French and United Nations have
followed the U.S. lead in reserving a final statement until
the decision of the Constitutional Council. With that
decision NOW in hand, we expect multiple international
statements. The absence of a U.S. statement would be noted
and complicate the return to normal relations with the
Mauritanian Government. Post recommends a statement along
the following lines:
The United States notes the definitive decision of
Mauritania,s Constitutional Council declaring that Mohamed
Ould Abdel Aziz has been elected president. Despite a
certain number of irregularities, the Constitutional Council,
like international observers, has determined that the
presidential elections of July 18 reflected the general will
of the Mauritanian people. We congratulate former General
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on his victory and look forward to
working with his government on the multiple challenges facing
his country. The Dakar Accord succeeded in building the
necessary basis of national consensus to return Mauritania to
constitutional legitimacy and afforded the Mauritanian people
the opportunity to freely choose their own leader. We call
on President-Elect Aziz as well as all of Mauritania's
political leaders to continue to work together constructively
and respectfully in the interests on their people.
4. (C) In it certainly too early to read the nature of the
new Aziz government but the General has, up to now, acted
responsibly and said the right things about being the
"President of ALL Mauritanians" and suggesting that some
opposition ministers in the Government of National Unity may
carry over into his next government. It is also suggested
that he will work with the FNDD's Messaoud Ould Boulkheir as
the "Leader of the Opposition" (a formal cabinet-rank
position in Mauritania and as President of the National
Assembly. The hand appears to be extended, even as Ould
Boulkheir and Ould Daddah continue to denounce the election
results. A correct and encouraging U.S. statement may help
cement the positive tendencies we are seeing. Department may
also wish to prepare a letter of congratulations to
President-Elect Aziz.
5. (C) The Ambassador will seek a courtesy call on the
President-Elect on Saturday, July 25.
BOULWARE