Mauritanians react to junta leader's presidential bid

2009-04-17

Few Mauritanians were surprised to learn that General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz would resign his military commission and run for president. Many wonder, however, if the move will resolve or worsen the post-coup crisis.

By Mohamed Yahia Ould Abdel Wedoud for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 17/04/09

[Getty Images] General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is seeking the presidency of Mauritania.

Mauritania junta leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz announced Sunday (April 12th) on national radio his intention to resign as the head of the High State Council (HCE) to run in the June 6th presidential elections, ending weeks of speculation about his all-but-certain candidature.

Since Abdel Aziz overthrew President Sidi Mohamed Ould Sheikh Abdallahi last August in a bloodless military coup that divided the country, Mauritania's international isolation has grown by the day. In the most recent blow, on April 8th, the European Union suspended all but humanitarian aid to the country.

Ahmad Ould Daddah, RFD party chief and member of opposition coalition National Front for the Defence of Democracy (FNDD), initially supported the coup. His objection to the candidature of Abdel Aziz, a military officer, led him to announce a boycott of the proposed national elections.

"If I called what happened on August 6th a corrective procedure, I am calling it today a coup. I emphasise that it is against the law and a flagrant violation of the constitution's article 18 for the military to run for president," Daddah declared at a party gathering on April 4th.

The issue of resignation as a predicate to any election bid stems from the 2008 African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance. Under the charter, authors of coups are barred from participating in any election aimed at restoring constitutional order. After Daddah raised the issue late last month, the ruling council countered that to satisfy the charter provisions, Abdel Aziz need only resign his military commission and run as a civilian candidate.

Army and security officers serving when the military coup occurred should be ineligible to run in the upcoming presidential elections, Daddah said, adding that the army's continued hold on power could aggravate Mauritania's international isolation and trigger further political and economical sanctions.

"[Abdel Aziz' candidature]would be catastrophic, both for democracy and for a real way out of the crisis, for the absence of military staff from the elections is an essential point if there is to be a free, honest and transparent vote," Daddah added.

[Getty Images] Mauritanians celebrate the military coup that toppled President Sidi Mohamed Ould Sheikh Abdallahi.

Most citizens were not surprised by the news of General Abel Aziz's candidature. After the "General Assembly for Democracy" (EGD) agreed in January to hold elections, the junta chief's election bid was considered a certainty.

"Everyone knew that General Abdel Aziz would run for president, backed by the pro-coup Parliament majority," carpenter Aal Ould Ahmed told Magharebia.

Some citizens went so far as to speculate that the generals and the Parliament planned all along - through a plot concocted in the dark, as they put it - to topple Abdallahi and assume his post.

"Parliament overthrew Sheikh Abdallahi’s government by a no-confidence vote, as cued by the generals. Some of them even admitted that. The goal was to distance the president from the Parliament, which, in turn, culminated in the August 2008 military coup," said political activist Mohamed Mokhtar. "The fig leaf has been shed, now that General Mohamed is about to resign from the military and run for president."

Other Mauritanians are happy that Abdellahi is gone. "The man did nothing for an entire year and five months," said Mohamed Sa’id, a teacher. "Prices soared like never before. Public funds were continually being embezzled. The dream of a change gradually disappeared."

"Abdellahi did not live in Mauritania. He arrived to this country right before the presidential elections, and so was not aware of citizens’ problems, which created a crisis that ended in him being overthrown," he added.

[Getty Images] Anti-coup protesters denounce Abdellahi's ouster as a move to silence democracy.

While Mauritanian laymen are divided over Abdel Aziz’s decision to resign and run for president, just as they were divided regarding the August coup, everyone agrees on the need for a constitutional solution to the current crisis.

"I hope we overcome the candidacy problem and adopt solutions that can improve living conditions," said Sidati, a merchant. "We are looking forward to ending this row over power, which halted development and made politics the talk of the town. Let whoever assumes power undertake democratic reforms that benefit the simple citizen who is dreaming of a better life."

The threatened election boycott by the opposition will only make matters worse, say political analysts.

"The coming elections will help General Abdel Aziz to power, establishing a unilateral system," political expert Al Hussien Ould Modu argued. "There is no real rival as long as the opposition boycotts the elections. The coming elections are but a new episode in the crisis."

Dr. Mohamed Lamine Ould Al Kitab, a political analyst and former president of Noukchott University, agreed that the presidential elections would not resolve Mauritania's political dilemma: "There seems to be no sign of a solution to this morbid crisis in the offing. All parties are adamantly sticking to their positions, unless concessions are made in pursuit of reconciliation, things can never go back to the way they were."

For Ahmed Ould Al Arabi, an academic, the problem is even more serious. "Electing Ould Abdel Aziz will push the door wide open before coups," he maintained.

"There can be no legitimacy for a coup-based regime, built on the debris of a democratically elected regime, to which the world bore witness," Al Arabi continued. "In any case, power will remain in the hands of the most powerful in the junta. This is not the democracy that the Mauritanian nation is looking forward to."

In related news, the elective census ended on April 15th. The purpose of the census, according to administrative authorities, is to allow register new voters ahead of the upcoming elections.

Magharebia spoke with some voters about preparations for the national poll.

"I know full well who is going to win, whether I cast my vote or not. Therefore, I do not think my vote will make much difference. No need to waste time," said Ahmed Ould Aal, aged 27.

Many young people are apathetic about voting. Still, they look forward to overcoming the power issue in a democratic manner so that citizens’ concerns start receiving some attention.

"I do not believe that registering voters, joining parties, and wasting huge amounts of money on a unilateral party will be of any good to simple citizens," remarked Kabir, a 32-year-old unemployed engineer.

"If only all that money could be used to finance public institutions in order to absorb unemployment and alleviate the suffering of unemployed youth."