VZCZCXRO6766
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS RUEHPA
DE RUEHNK #0321/01 0801550
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 211550Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5276
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0209
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0240
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0396
RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0204
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0152

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN - BURKINABE RELATIONS WARMING 
 
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) 
 
-------------- 
(C) Key Points 
-------------- 
 
-- Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore's visit to 
Nouakchott March 16-17 and Colonel Fal's trip to Ouagadougou 
last December represents a warming in Mauritanian-Burkinabe 
relations. 
 
-- These relations were strained under former President Taya, 
who believed that Burkina Faso -- along with Libya -- was 
trying to destabilize his regime. 
 
-- Compaore's visit last week, and the current visit of 
Gambia's President El Hadj Yahaya AJJ Jammeh, brings to four 
the total number of West African heads of state to visit 
Mauritania since the August 3 coup d'etat. 
 
------------ 
(C) Comments 
------------ 
 
-- The continued head-of-state visits from neighboring West 
African nations indicate a significant warming in 
Mauritania's relations with its sub-Saharan neighbors. 
 
-- Under the former government, in power for 21 years, 
Mauritania moved closer to its Arab partners and away from 
its sub-Saharan neighbors.  A more balanced set of 
relationships may be in the offing, although that is far from 
certain.  There are reports that bilateral visits with 
Tunisia and Algeria will occur in the next month or so. 
 
End Key Points and Comments. 
 
¶1. (U) Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore arrived in 
Nouakchott March 16 for a two day "friendship and working" 
visit.  Compaore, who had been invited to Mauritania by 
Colonel Fal, became the third West African head of state to 
visit the country since the August 3 coup. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
IMPROVING RELATIONS AND STRENGTHENING TIES 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (C) Both Compaore's visit last week and Colonel Fal's trip 
to Burkina Faso in December represent a warming in 
Mauritanian-Burkinabe relations.  These relations were 
strained under former President Taya, who believed that 
Burkina Faso -- along with Libya -- was trying to destabilize 
his regime.  Tensions increased after Taya publicly accused 
Ouagadougou of supporting the Nights of Change -- a group of 
former military officers that had led an unsuccessful coup 
attempt in 2003. 
 
¶3. (U) Compaore used the visit as an opportunity to express 
his support for Fal and the transitional government.  "Rarely 
have we had as much public support for a regime heading 
towards democracy in Africa," Compaore said, adding that 
Mauritania's level of "peace" and its "clear vision for 
democratization" were exceptional. 
 
¶4. (U) The two leaders discussed shared interests and 
emphasized economic connections and bilateral cooperation. 
"We are here to consolidate our connections and see what we 
can offer each other in various sectors, including economic 
development, transportation, arts, animal husbandry, and 
technical and professional training," Compare said. 
Compare's delegation of more than 15 Burkinabe government 
officials included his Minister of Security and Minister of 
Mines, Quarries and Energy. 
 
----------------------------------- 
GAMBIAN PRESIDENT VISITS MAURITANIA 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) In an additional sign of Mauritania's move towards its 
West African Neighbors, Gambian President El Hadj Yahaya 
A.J.J. Jammeh arrived in Nouakchott March 20 for a comparable 
"friendship and working" visit.  While the agenda for 
 
NOUAKCHOTT 00000321  002 OF 002 
 
 
Jammeh's visit is similar to that of Compare's, Jammeh's trip 
is seen more as a trip to maintain positive relations, rather 
than build them. 
LeBaron