Mauritanian Coup Leader Vows Elections

By The Media Line/Rachelle Kliger

The masterminds of Wednesday's coup in Mauritania say the country will soon head for "free and transparent" elections in order to "re-launch the democratic process."

The rebel force, led by former head of the Presidential Guard, General Muhammad Ould 'Abd Al-'Aziz, said the elections would be held as soon as possible.

'Abd Al-'Aziz was among a group of senior security officers sacked by the president on Wednesday morning. The force took over the presidential place on Wednesday afternoon and arrested the president, Sidi Ould Sheikh 'Abdallahi, and other senior officials.

The force met with no resistance in taking over the palace and other key governmental institutions.

'Abd Al-'Aziz did not disperse the government in the wake of the coup.

'Abdallahi was elected to power in April 2007, two years after a bloodless coup ousted former president Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmad Taya, who led the country for 20 years.

'Abdallahi's tenure has been marked by political turmoil and increasing disappointment with the way he has handled terror attacks and economic hardships, compounded by the effects of the global food crisis.

Last month a new government was unveiled in Mauritania, the third government in 15 months.

The president has been rapidly losing the support of his staunchest supporters and earlier this week 48 MPs from his own party quit, stripping him of vital political support.

Also, the president's wife is facing criticism over allegations that funds for a charity she founded were embezzled from state funds.

"This is his own party rebelling against him and starting a process that would have ended with him being sacked from his office through the high courts of justice, a process that would have taken three or four months," Nasser Weddady, a Mauritanian activist and civil rights outreach director at the American Islamic Congress said.

"During the year he spent in office, his critics have pointed to a total lack of leadership and a complete lack of initiative in dealing with the several crises the country saw," Weddady told The Media Line.

He pointed to indications that the president himself wanted a coup to get him out of a political rut.

"Analysts point out [the coup] is a preemptive strike to not have to immediately face elections because that was the only option open. Everything on the political map says Sidi 'Abdallahi wouldn't have scored any gains in the elections," he said.

He added that Mauritania's democratic institutions were "ahead of the curve" compared with the rest of the Arab world, but it was still unclear how the coup would affect the country's political future.

"Censorship laws were abolished, there are no political prisoners and Mauritanians have freedom to express themselves and organize themselves. Within the Arab context this is unheard of, but it is yet to be seen how this experience will end or whether it will continue."

Freedom House, an independent organization that monitors and promotes the spread of freedom, called the coup a "tragic setback" for Mauritania and is urging the African Union to suspend Mauritania from its membership until the country returns to a constitutional government.

The United States State Department condemned the coup.

"We oppose any attempts by military elements to change governments through extra-constitutional means," Gonzalo R. Gallegos, a spokesman for the State Department said.

Mauritania is a member of the Arab League. The vast majority of its 3.3 million-strong population is Muslim.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com

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