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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NOUAKCHOTT 000562 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID MR
SUBJECT: IN POSSIBLY HISTORIC TURN, MAURITANIANS START 
(SLOWLY) TO ADDRESS ARAB-BLACK AFRICAN COMMUNAL RELATIONS 
 
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 279 
 
NOUAKCHOTT 00000562  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) 
 
-------------- 
(C) Key Points 
-------------- 
 
-- Mauritanians have begun to take the first tentative steps 
towards a public discussion of the acutely sensitive issues 
of Arab - Black African relations, specifically the communal 
violence of 1989 and the return of Black African Mauritanian 
refugees now in Senegal and Mali.  Such public discussion is 
very rare. 
 
-- At a public ceremony held April 25 to mark the anniversary 
of the outbreak of communal violence between Moors and Black 
Africans in 1989, attendees called on the government to 
organize the mass return of the estimated 20,000 Black 
African Mauritanian refugees living in Senegal and Mali. 
 
-- In a separate press conference, FLAM-Reform, a new Black 
African Mauritanian group, asked the government to bring to 
trial those responsible for murder, rape and kidnapping 
during the 1989 events.  FLAM-Reform members recently broke 
away from FLAM, the exiled Black African Mauritanian 
opposition group, when they decided to return to Mauritania 
to participate in the new political process underway. 
 
------------ 
(C) Comments 
------------ 
 
-- This tentative public dialogue on such highly sensitive 
ethnic and racial issues is highly significant.  These 
communal issues have smoldered here for many decades, with 
anger and resentment spilling over into communal violence 17 
years ago. 
 
-- We sense that it is just possible that Fal is now willing 
to help set the stage for a democratically elected government 
to take up this sensitive national issue.  FLAM-Reform 
leaders said at their press conference that they had met with 
Colonel Fal April 26 to discuss these issues, although the 
discussion had not arrived at any solutions. 
 
-- If Fal is beginning to take on the deeply divisive issue, 
he almost certainly will be strongly resisted by senior 
military officers and others who fear criminal implication in 
the 1989 events. 
 
-- The recent press reports in Europe that the Belgian 
judiciary is to consider charges of torture and crimes 
against humanity by ousted President Taya during the 1989 
events is certain to spook further some Mauritanians here. 
 
-- Embassy intends to do all it can to support and further 
this critically important national conversation on 
inter-communal relations.  Mauritania, whether now or later, 
will simply have to deal with the legacy of slavery that 
continues to infuse all aspects of society and politics. 
 
End Key Points and Comments. 
 
¶1. (U) At a ceremony commemorating the 17th anniversary of 
the outbreak of ethnic violence in Mauritania, key political 
parties and NGO's called on the transitional government to 
address the plight of the estimated 20,000 Afro-Mauritanian 
refugees living in Senegal and Mali. 
 
¶2. (U) In a separate press conference held May 5, 
FLAM-Reform, a breakaway wing of the exiled Afro-Mauritanian 
opposition group FLAM (reftel) renewed its call for 
government action to address the longstanding refugee issue, 
specifically demanding the arrest and trial of those involved 
in crimes against humanity.  The refugees fled south between 
1989 and 1991 -- a period referred to as the 1989 events -- 
to escape ethnic violence. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
AFTER 17 YEARS, MAURITANIANS DEMANDS ACTION 
 
NOUAKCHOTT 00000562  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) The 17th anniversary ceremony, organized April 25th by 
the Afro-Mauritanian political party, Alliance for Justice 
and Democracy (AJD), drew both public and private press, 
NGOs, and a significant number of key political parties and 
party coalitions.  In his opening remarks, AJD President 
Cheikhou Cisse asked "why has the transitional government 
allowed for the return of the dictator Taya (Mauritania's 
former president), but not for the return of these peaceful 
Mauritanian citizens?"  Cisse discussed the current situation 
of the refugees and invited a former refugee on stage who 
described the harsh living conditions for refugees "without a 
country...and without rights."  Cisse said "the refugees will 
not return without guaranties (from the transitional 
government), because they have watched the others who have 
returned and have still not recovered their rights."  Cisse 
ended his remarks by saying "enough is enough," a theme 
repeated by others throughout the day. 
 
¶4. (U) Prominent speakers representing the Afro-Mauritanian 
community included Party for Liberty, Equality, and Justice 
President Ba Mamadou Alassane and Mohamed Ould Dellahi, 
current President of the Afro-Mauritanian political party 
coalition Bloc for Change.  These figures joined Cisse in 
demanding a transitional government-sponsored mass return of 
refugees.  Additionally, they called on the government to 
return lands, homes, and jobs these Mauritanians were forced 
to leave behind, and offer each a "just remuneration" package 
for their suffering. 
 
¶5. (U) Following the ceremony, participants were pessimistic 
about the potential for government action.  Alassane said 
that he "hadn't seen any good will from the transitional 
government" on this issue, while former Popular Progressive 
Alliance (Afro-Mauritanian political party) deputy Sarr 
Ibrahima and FONADH (NGO coalition) president Sarr Amadou 
said that the "transitional government won't address this 
issue...because it is too complicated."  However, 
participants held some hope that the "24 Commitments" the 
transitional government had submitted to the European Union 
on November 30, which included a commitment to "facilitate 
the return" of Mauritanian refugees, might force some action 
on the part of the transitional government. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
FLAM-REFORM CALLS FOR ARRESTS AND PROSECUTIONS 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6. (U) In a press conference May 5, FLAM-Reform leaders 
called on the transitional government to take action to 
resolve the "tragedies of the past period," including the 
murder, rape and kidnapping of hundreds, and deportation of 
thousands of Afro-Mauritanians.  Specifically, they asked the 
government to use new genetic technologies to identify bodies 
in mass graves, and to bring those responsible to trial.  The 
group also reiterated their call for a mass return of 
refugees, a move they consider "a first step in addressing 
the tragedies." 
 
¶7. (U) At the press conference FLAM-Reform leaders said they 
had met with Colonel Fal April 26 to discuss these issues, 
but had not arrived at any solutions. 
 
¶8. (C) Additional FLAM and FLAM-Reform remembers returned to 
Mauritania last week after years in exile.  While many FLAM 
members remain abroad, the return of these figures indicates 
a shift in the organization towards a more active in-country 
role.  Whereas the organization had spent the past years 
criticizing Taya from abroad, they now appear to be shifting 
towards increased domestic involvement in the political 
transition. 
 
-------------------- 
CHARGES AGAINST TAYA 
-------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) According to press reports, the Belgian judiciary is 
to consider complaints concerning alleged torture and crimes 
against humanity committed by Taya during the 89 Events. 
Marc Libert, counsel for the Association of Mauritanian 
 
NOUAKCHOTT 00000562  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Soldiers, Widows and Orphans (AVOMM), which lodged the 
complaints, told reporters that Belgian Magistrates said all 
the conditions had been met to prepare a case against Taya. 
"Federal Prosecutor Philippe Meire received my clients and me 
recently, saying Ould Taya's loss of presidential immunity 
and the granting of Belgian nationality to one of the 
plaintiffs would make the case possible," Libert said. 
 
¶10. (U) Libert said the examining Magistrate would hear from 
the plaintiffs in the coming days, and would then file a 
report with the Magistrates' committee, which will decide 
whether or not to charge Taya. 
LeBaron