Zawaya

Mauritanian democracy, third version... Will it be the last...!?

By: Mohamed Yehdih Ould Baba Ahmed

Most observers of Mauritanian political events believe that this Afro-Arab country is on the verge of bidding farewell to the era of military coups, and that it is now preparing for the consecration of a democratic political life. The electoral campaign is currently taking place after the parties of the Mauritanian crisis overcame the most important political dilemma experienced by their country over a half-century of independence, as the second coup, in less than four years, was addressed strongly and sharply in a remarkable way. This made the country about to stand on the brink of conflicts if it wasn’t for the intervention of Senegalese neighbors, and the wisdom and prudence of Mauritanian parties. However, the problem that remains pending is the following:

What are the measures that the next Mauritanian President should take for the consecration of the democratic system on the one hand, and its protection from military attacks on the other hand?

Before answering this question, we should mention that it might be a hurdle to have the Mauritanian parties – that are currently competing for the presidency – accept the results of the elections and admit defeat. And in regards to our main topic, I personally think that the structure of the Mauritanian political scene is complex and unsteady, as it is an exception to its simple nomadic environment, as a result of the puzzling and confusing formation of its political map, both in terms of adherence and opposition. The Mauritanian political scene can be likened to the rise and decline, growth and shrinkage of the stock market. In such an environment, the next Mauritanian president will confront a pile of problems, namely: the existence of a democracy whose first edition emerged as a gift from the military, especially during the reign of the former Mauritanian president who ruled the country for more than 21 years, Maaouya Ould Taya. Then the second gift was offered by the Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall; and finally, what we might consider as a third version – and which may not be the last – thanks to the intervention of the international community and the Senegalese mediation, if they both succeed.

Faced with all this, the next president, be it a military or a civilian one, should act firmly and issue orders to keep the military away from politics. This can be achieved only through the rehabilitation of the army, and offering it good conditions. Also, in order to establish democracy, the political parties, civil society organizations, press and dignitaries should be involved.

Add to that, preventing political curfew between political parties by enacting a law forbidding party representatives from abandoning their party for the duration of their assignment to the party.

Finally, we can say that the next Mauritanian President will find himself between the hammer of a democracy offered by the military, and the anvil of people looking forward to the exercise of a real democracy.