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R 171115Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5270
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
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RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0148

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000313 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: AFRO-MAURITANIAN COALITION PESSIMISTIC ABOUT 
ELECTIONS 
 
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 87 
 
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) 
 
-------------- 
(C) Key Points 
-------------- 
 
-- In a meeting with PolOff March 13, Mohamed Ould Sidi Ould 
Dellahi, President of the Afro-Mauritanian political party 
coalition "Group of Parties for Change," said the coup did 
not represent a significant change for Mauritania, nor would 
elections bring about such a change. 
 
-- "The same group that was in power before the coup is still 
in power," Dellahi said, adding that this group will 
influence the elections to ensure that "one of their own" or 
someone who will "protect their interests" wins. 
 
-- Dellahi said that the risk for civil war and internal 
conflict following the elections was high, as expectations 
for change among Afro-Mauritanians would not be realized. 
 
-- Dellahi claimed that two men recently threatened to kill 
him if he didn't stop calling for the return of refugees and 
the protection of Afro-Mauritanians' human rights. 
 
------------ 
(C) Comments 
------------ 
 
-- Dellahi, a White Moor, is well-known for supporting 
Afro-Mauritian issues, but is often extreme in his views. 
While we do not agree with his gloom and doom assessment of a 
coming civil war, his fears of "subtle" White Moor influence 
on the electoral process are likely well-founded. 
 
-- Dellahi's perspective also highlights the national 
division between moderate and radical Afro-Mauritanian 
political leanings. 
 
End Key Points and Comments. 
 
¶1. (U) On March 13 PollOff met with Mohamed Ould Sidi Ould 
Dellahi, President of the "Group of Parties for Change," the 
leading Afro-Mauritanian political party coalition, to 
discuss the outlook for Afro-Mauritanians in the coming 
elections. 
 
-------------------------------- 
"ELECTIONS WON'T CHANGE A THING" 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Dellahi began the meeting by stressing that the August 
3 coup did not/not represent a significant change in the 
Mauritanian power structure, nor would elections bring about 
such a change.  "The same group that was in power before the 
coup is still in power," Dellahi said, adding that "the only 
difference is that Taya is gone."  Dellahi explained that the 
coup was nothing more than "those with power becoming nervous 
about Taya's management and hold over the country, and 
deciding that their interests would be better served by 
someone else." 
 
¶3. (C) Dellahi predicted that this "power base" will 
"influence" the elections to ensure that "one of their own" 
or someone who will "protect their interests" will come to 
power. 
 
¶4. (C) According to Dellahi such influence will be subtle. 
"By not allowing Afro-Mauritanian refugees to return, they 
will ensure victory for White Moor candidates," he said, also 
adding that "by not having public financing for political 
parties, they will be able to use their significant wealth to 
ensure that their own candidates win."  "Their influence is 
not in the open, but behind closed doors, and this influence 
has already begun," Dellahi said, adding that "we have seen 
it in many of the decisions the government has already made." 
 
----------------------- 
POTENTIAL FOR CIVIL WAR 
 
NOUAKCHOTT 00000313  002 OF 002 
 
 
----------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Dellahi said that the risk for civil war and internal 
conflict following the elections was high, as expectations 
for change would not be realized.  "Many Afro-Mauritanians 
believe that these elections will improve their lives," 
Dellahi said, adding that "on the current electoral path, 
this simply won't happen, and when the people realize it 
they'll respond." 
 
¶6. (C) Dellahi stressed that civil war was not inevitable. 
"If the government addresses the refugee issue and provides a 
fair electoral environment for all citizens and parties, then 
real change could be possible," Dellahi said.  "If the people 
feel that they at least have a voice, and the opportunity for 
change, they will accept that." 
 
------------ 
DEATH THREAT 
------------ 
 
¶7. (C) Dellahi claimed that two men recently threatened to 
kill him if he didn't stop calling for the return of refugees 
and the enhanced protection of Afro-Mauritanians' human 
rights.  According to Dellahi, these men were sent by the 
influential "power base" including the well-connected local 
businessman Mohamed Hmayen Bouamatou.  Dellahi explained that 
he reported the incident to the local police, but that the 
men were not arrested "because of the police's fear of 
Bouamatou." 
 
------------------------------------------ 
APPRECIATION FOR US ROLE AND PLEA FOR HELP 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (C) Dellahi thanked PolOff for the embassy's positive 
stance on the plight of Afro-Mauritanians.  Specifically, he 
cited the importance of the Ambassador's recent trip to 
refugee camps in northern Senegal (reftel).  "Ambassador 
LeBaron's visit drew needed attention to the issue and will 
make it more difficult for the current or following 
government to ignore these people," Dellahi said. 
 
¶9. (C) Dellahi concluded the meeting with a call for U.S. 
assistance.  "Without financial support, Afro-Mauritanian 
political parties will not be able to effectively rally our 
people together," Dellahi said, adding that "without 
continued political pressure, this government will do little 
to address Afro-Mauritanian issues."  He repeated his fears 
about civil war and internal conflict, adding that "for 
elections and democracy to work here, we will need the help 
of our democratic friends." 
 
------------- 
THE COALITION 
------------- 
 
¶10. (C) The Group of Parties for Change is a coalition of 
four political parties: The Alliance for Justice and 
Democracy (AJD), The Party for Liberty Equality and Justice 
(PLEJ), The Mauritanian Labor Party (PTM), and The 
Mauritanian Party for the Protection of the Environment 
(PMDE).  AJD and PLEJ are two of the three main 
Afro-Mauritanian political parties.  The third, The Popular 
Progressive Alliance (APP), is not a member of the coalition. 
 While PTM and Dellahi's PMDE party are not technically 
Afro-Mauritanian parties, both groups have a long history of 
supporting the Afro-Mauritanian cause. 
LeBaron