Mauritanian parties meet for political dialogue

Political dialogue meetings between Mauritanian opposition and government parties have started this week, expected to last until 10 October.

A number of discussion points will be raised in the meeting including political, economic and social issues, the distribution of wealth, and the cohesion of Mauritania’s multi-ethnic society.

Constitutional amendments will most likely be the focal discussion point, particularly that of the abolition of the Senate and the introduction of the post of Vice President. The electoral system and the bodies responsible for supervision, transparency and fairness will also be reviewed.

The aim of the dialogue meeting is to discuss ways to develop its shift to democracy and to “preserve the gains that have been achieved in the field of construction and consecration of state institutions, and the maintenance and strengthening of national unity,” Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said.

In the opening speech of the meeting, Abdel Aziz maintained that the points raised “will return to the people through a referendum to decide on the proposals and recommendations, which requires the adoption of constitutional amendments.”

However, though seen as a political dialogue meeting, much of the opposition is still absent.  Abdel Aziz claims that efforts have been made to involve all parties and stressed that the hand of dialogue will remain “outstretched to all political actors.”

But for opposition parties like that of the Rally of Democratic Forces led by Ahmed Ould Daddah, and the National Forum for Democracy and Unity, the conditions for a serious dialogue with minimum guarantees is not available.

The most notable political dialogue in Mauritania took place in 2009 which resulted in the resignation of President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi that began consensual presidential elections, ending the crisis caused by the current president’s coup against Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in 2008.