Excerpt from document summary
(U) The EAC met on Thursday July 16, 2009, to assess the security situation for the upcoming election period. The first round of elections will be held on Saturday July, 18, 2009, and a run-off, if needed, will be held on August 1, 2009.

Full Document

P 161657Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8637

Content
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000463

NOFORN

DEPT FOR DS/RD/AF, DS/IP/ITA,

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2019
TAGS: ASEC, CASC, MR, PTER
SUBJECT: NOUAKCHOTT - EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE (EAC)
MEETING ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Classified By: Ambassador Mark Boulware for reason 1.4 (c)

1. (U) The EAC met on Thursday July 16, 2009, to assess the security situation for the upcoming election period. The first round of elections will be held on Saturday July, 18, 2009, and a run-off, if needed, will be held on August 1, 2009.

2. (U) The EAC agreed that the elections will probably take place in a generally orderly fashion although it recognized the low probability but still credible risks of another attempted coup if General Aziz is seen to be losing or of popular unrest if he is seen to be winning (particularly in an unlikely first-round win). The EAC concurred there is a risk of large crowds gathering -- particularly as election results start to come in the evening of the 18th and into the morning of the 19th. The EAC noted that past demonstrations have turned violent and clashed with police and/or military forces in Nouakchott.

3. (S) The DCM noted a recent YouTube video claimed to be from AQIM denouncing all the candidates but noted we had no credible information of an AQIM plan for actions related to the elections -- although Al Qaeda has done so in the past in other countries.

4. (C) EAC was advised by DCM that previous plans to send Embassy Officers to voting sites in Nema, Selibaby and Zouerate, as election monitors, had been canceled. This, as a result of the Mauritanian Foreign Minister's decision to decline a US offer to fly the offer for monitors to those cities. The Mission will seek accreditation of four embassy monitors -- two in Nouakchott and one each in Akjoujt and
Rosso -- traveling with LES staff.

5. (S) Peace Corps (PC) Director advised EAC that all current (approximately 72 in country) Nouakchott Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV's) will "stand fast" during Saturday's election, and "see how it goes on Sunday." PC Director indicated that all PCV's would continue to follow RSO security recommendations, and advise Post if any assistance is needed. EAC concurred.

6. (S) Ambassador requested RSO security recommendations for EAC for July 18th and 19th and was provided with the following:

- Limit vehicular travel throughout Nouakchott during the election period.
- Remain indoors (residence) or at the Embassy (if required to work) when possible, in order to limit your exposure.
- Avoid areas south of Gamel Abdel Nasser Street where the Saudi Mosque, Moroccan Mosque, Labor Unions, and markets are located.
- Avoid public and private school areas where polling sites are usually located.
- Keep Embassy radios turned on and on hand at all times (and
in vehicle if required to travel) in order to monitor RSO/Post 1 traffic.
- Keep Post 1 and/or other embassy officers apprised of whereabouts.

7. (SBU) The EAC recommended issuance of a Consular Warden Message alerting U.S. citizens to the risk of spontaneous unrest during the elections and advising citizens to avoid crowds and remain particularly alert. The Warden Message, approved by the CA OCS Duty Officer, was released the morning
of the 16th.

8. (S) EAC was further advised by RSO of Police intent to provide security at numerous polling sites around the city, and that they (police) were expecting some level of aggression and/or disruption during the elections. Police Rovers (mobile police units) were being dispersed throughout the city and Mauritanian Riot Police were being put on stand-by. RSO also informed EAC that SD team members would be monitoring various locations throughout Nouakchott and reporting any issues involving security directly to RSO staff.

9. (U) The EAC determined that the present security posture for Post is adequate, and will continue to monitor events in Nouakchott.

BOULWARE