Wikileaks “arabi”: Nouakchott (da al-Akhbar)

Excerpt from document summary
(C) General Aziz, accompanied by his Director of Cabinet,
Cheyakh Ould Ely, and Presidential Diplomatic and Security
Advisor, Ould Michel, received visiting AF DAS Todd Moss and
DoD Principal Director for African Affairs, Michael Dumont as
well as Ambassador and DATT. DAS Moss underscored that the
objectives of his visit were to insure that the junta
understood the USG’s position, that it was a whole of
government position, and to explore possibilities for the
resolution of the crisis. تتمة

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(C/NF) Summary: Having watched the evolution of the
Israeli relations issue in the context of the Mauritanian
political crisis, we believe that the junta, particularly
Foreign Minister Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou, is deeply
concerned about the repercussions of a formal break in the
Mauritanian-Israeli relationship. تتمة

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(C) Charge met December 15 with the pro-Abdallahi senator
of Mbout in Gorgol Province, Youssouf Tijani Sylla, who
renewed his October warning (REFTEL) that Afro-Mauritanians
were prepared to take up arms against the coup. Sylla, who
is half White Moor and half Sonnike who presents himself as a
champion of Black Moor Haratines and Afro-Mauritanians. تتمة

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(S – N/F) Summary: The FNDD sees opportunity in General
Aziz’s upcoming resignation to work on internal divisions in
his support base — hopefully leaving him out in the cold.
Diplomatic activities (including travel by President
Abdallahi) will continue as will open resistance. The FNDD
fears France as a spoiler. Sanctions, as always, are seen as
critical. تتمة

Excerpt from document summary
(C/NF) Summary: Senator Sylla stated he and a group of
anti-coup activists are determined to stop Aziz and derail
upcoming elections, through violence if necessary. To this
end, he wants to obtain arms and logistical support from the
Israelis, and have Post serve as an intermediary between the
two parties to facilitate contact. تتمة

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(C) Summary: Ambassador called on the junta “Foreign
Minister” on May 12 amid a wave of negative press featuring
accusations of improper interference by the Embassy in
internal affairs, an apparent GIRM suspension of visa
issuances for official Americans, and attempts to limit
in-country USG diplomatic travel. تتمة

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(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. تتمة

Excerpt from document summary
For the month of December 2009, Embassy Noakchott
has no additional Visas Viper submissions. However, as part
of normal procedures, a Consular officer will periodically
run namechecks of individuals submitted via TD reports to be
sure names submitted in TD reporting are being added into the
CLASS system. تتمة

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(C) UNDP Res Rep Maria Ribeiro invited COMs from the US,
French, Spanish and German embassies as well as the EU
Commission to discuss today’s developments. Ambassador
Boulware discussed his conversation earlier in the day with
General Aziz. تتمة

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(C) Nouakchott was calm overnight and activity was reduced
in town but relatively normal. Post has received reports are
that General Aziz moved from BASEP headquarters to the
Presidency yesterday evening. He has not been seen in public
since the coup took place. تتمة

Excerpt from document summary
(C) Ambassador received a message from Presidential
protocol the afternoon of August 9, inviting him to meet with
individually with General Aziz. Once US and EU Ambassadors
determined that General Aziz preferred meeting with us
individually rather than to receive the joint demarche, the
ambassadors agreed that each would attend the meeting تتمة

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(SBU) The National Front for the Defense of Democracy
(FNDD), a coalition of six political parties opposed to the
military coup, held a two-hour rally at the old stadium in
Nouakchott. FSNs report a peaceful gathering of 3000-3500
attendees, with police present only to direct traffic. FNDD
bused in supporters and handed out water. تتمة

Excerpt from document summary
(C) Ambassador met on September 2 with the junta’s
“Foreign Minister,” Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou at the
latter’s request. Noting the historically good relations
between the United States and Mauritania, Ould Mohamedou
hoped that these could continue even under the current
“difficult circumstances. تتمة

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(C) On August 21 Ba Samba Mamadou, the Deputy Director for
American and Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA), called on the Embassy to disavow a recent press report
suggesting that Libyan leader Muammar Qadafi had offered to
off-set Israeli assistance to Mauritania provided General
Abdel Aziz agreed to severe diplomatic relations with Israel. تتمة