The origins and evolution of Mauritania's second republic

Journal of Modern African Studies

Volumn 34, Issue 4, 1996, Pages 575-596

  Pazzanita, Anthony G ^a  

^a NONE   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DEMOCRATISATION; POLITICAL SYSTEM;

MAURITANIA;

EID: 0030404609     PISSN: 0022278X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/s0022278x00055774     Document Type: Article

References (109)

1. According to Africa South of the Sahara, 1995 (London, 1995,), P. 606, Mauritania had a population of about 2·03 million in 1991.
2. See Alfred G. Gerteiny, Mauritania (New York, 1967), pp. 136-40.
3. Ibid. pp. 148-50.
4. Ibid. pp. 157-60.
5. Brian Dean Curran and Joann Schrock, Area Handbook for Mauritania (Washington, DC, 1972), pp. 153-4.
6. Tony Hodges, Western Sahara: the roots of a desert war (Westport, CT, 1983), pp. 241-6 and 257-66.
7. See Colin Legum (ed.), Africa Contemporary Record: annual survey and documents, 1979-80, Vol. XII (New York, 1980), p. B571.
8. Robert E. Handloff (ed.), Mauritania: a country study (Washington, DC, 1990), pp. 128-30.
9. Colin Legum (ed.), Africa Contemporary Record: annual survey and documents, 1981-2, Vol. XIV (New York, 1982), pp. B474-5.
10. West Africa (London), 19 January 1987, pp. 110-11 and 24-30 October 1988, pp. 1984-5.
11. West Africa (London), 19 January 1987, pp. 110-11 and 24-30 October 1988, pp. 1984-5.
12. Ibid. For the French text of FLAM's primary political tract, entitled Le Manifesto du négromauritanien opprimé, see Un Apartheid méconnu: livre blanc sur la situation des noirs en Mauritanie (Paris, Forces de libération africaine de Mauritanie, Section Europe-Nord, January 1991).
13. Ibid. For the French text of FLAM's primary political tract, entitled Le Manifesto du négromauritanien opprimé, see Un Apartheid méconnu: livre blanc sur la situation des noirs en Mauritanie (Paris, Forces de libération africaine de Mauritanie, Section Europe-Nord, January 1991).
14. See Africa Research Bulletin: political, social and cultural series (Exeter), 27, 11, 1-30 November 1990, p. 9899. Hereinafter, ARB: psc.
15. See Africa Research Bulletin: political, social and cultural series (Exeter), 27, 11, 1-30 November 1990, p. 9899. Hereinafter, ARB: psc.
16. See Amnesty International, Human Rights Violations in the Senegal River Valley (London and New York, October 1990), and Human Rights Watch/Africa, Mauritania's Campaign of Terror: state-sponsored repression of black Africans (New York, April 1994).
17. See Amnesty International, Human Rights Violations in the Senegal River Valley (London and New York, October 1990), and Human Rights Watch/Africa, Mauritania's Campaign of Terror: state-sponsored repression of black Africans (New York, April 1994).
18. See Ron Parker, 'The Senegal-Mauritania Crisis of 1989: a fragile equilibrium', in The Journal of Modern African Studies (Cambridge), 29, 1, March 1991, pp. 155-71, and West Africa, 15-21 May 1989, pp. 798-90, and 19-25 June 1989, pp. 1007-9.
19. See Ron Parker, 'The Senegal-Mauritania Crisis of 1989: a fragile equilibrium', in The Journal of Modern African Studies (Cambridge), 29, 1, March 1991, pp. 155-71, and West Africa, 15-21 May 1989, pp. 798-90, and 19-25 June 1989, pp. 1007-9.
20. See Ron Parker, 'The Senegal-Mauritania Crisis of 1989: a fragile equilibrium', in The Journal of Modern African Studies (Cambridge), 29, 1, March 1991, pp. 155-71, and West Africa, 15-21 May 1989, pp. 798-90, and 19-25 June 1989, pp. 1007-9.
21. Mark Doyle, 'Blood Brothers', in Africa Report (New York), 34, 4, July-August 1989, pp. 13-16, and 'Nouakchott's New Nationalism', in ibid. 34, 5, September-October 1989, pp. 37-40.
22. Mark Doyle, 'Blood Brothers', in Africa Report (New York), 34, 4, July-August 1989, pp. 13-16, and 'Nouakchott's New Nationalism', in ibid. 34, 5, September-October 1989, pp. 37-40.
23. See Africa Confidential (London), 31, 17, 24 August 1990, p. 1, and 32, 3, 8 February 1991, pp. 6-7. Also, John King, 'Iraq's Growing Involvement in Mauritania', in Middle East International (London), 3 August 1990, pp. 18-19.
24. See Africa Confidential (London), 31, 17, 24 August 1990, p. 1, and 32, 3, 8 February 1991, pp. 6-7. Also, John King, 'Iraq's Growing Involvement in Mauritania', in Middle East International (London), 3 August 1990, pp. 18-19.
25. See Africa Confidential (London), 31, 17, 24 August 1990, p. 1, and 32, 3, 8 February 1991, pp. 6-7. Also, John King, 'Iraq's Growing Involvement in Mauritania', in Middle East International (London), 3 August 1990, pp. 18-19.
26. Economist Intelligence Unit Country Report, Mauritania (London), 4th Quarter 1995, p. 36. Hereinafter, EIU Report.
27. Foreign Broadcast Information Service Daily Reports: Near East and South Asia (Washington, DC), 16 April 1991, p. 6. Hereinafter, FBIS: NESA.
28. ARB: psc, 28, 4, 1-30 April 1991, pp. 10081-3.
29. EIU Report, Mauritania, 3, 1991, p. 34.
30. President Ould Taya publicly called the idea of a national conference 'ridiculous and antidemocratic'. See his comments in Jeune Afrique (Paris), 1605, 2-8 October 1991, pp. 28-31.
31. West Africa, 29 April-5 May 1991, p. 654, and ARB: psc, 28, 4, 1-30 April 1991, pp. 10097-8.
32. West Africa, 29 April-5 May 1991, p. 654, and ARB: psc, 28, 4, 1-30 April 1991, pp. 10097-8.
33. EIU Report, Mauritania, 3, 1991, pp. 37-8. Also arrested was Colonel Djibril Ould Abdellahi, a one-time CMSN member and Minister of the Interior from 1986 to February 1990, when he had been suddenly dismissed. Ould Abdellahi, however, was not an FDUC adherent, and he (along with the other detainees) was released on 29 July 1991.
34. Ibid. pp. 36-7.
35. ARB: psc, 28, 8, 1-31 August 1991, p. 10230.
36. Projet de Constitution: soumis au référendum le 12 juillet 1991 (Nouakchott, 1991). For an English translation, see Albert P. Blaustein and Gisbert H. Flanz (eds.), Constitutions of the Countries of the World (Dobbs Ferry, NY, August 1993), Release 93-5.
37. Projet de Constitution: soumis au référendum le 12 juillet 1991 (Nouakchott, 1991). For an English translation, see Albert P. Blaustein and Gisbert H. Flanz (eds.), Constitutions of the Countries of the World (Dobbs Ferry, NY, August 1993), Release 93-5.
38. ARB: psc, 28, 8, 1-31 August 1992, p. 10268. The PRDS was founded on 29 August 1991.
39. Ibid.
40. Ibid. 28, 10, 1-31 October 1991, p. 10307.
41. A comprehensive listing of Mauritanian political parties from the French colonial period to the end of 1993 is contained in Mohammad-Mahmoud Mohamedou, Societal Transition to Democracy in Mauritania (Cairo, Ibn Khaldoun Centre for Development Studies and Dar el-Ameen Publishers, 1995), pp. 209-14.
42. ARB: psc, 29, 1, 1-31 January 1992, pp. 10414-15. See also the comments by Ahmed Ould Daddah in The Courier (Brussels), 137, January-February 1993, pp. 32-4.
43. ARB: psc, 29, 1, 1-31 January 1992, pp. 10414-15. See also the comments by Ahmed Ould Daddah in The Courier (Brussels), 137, January-February 1993, pp. 32-4.
44. ARB: psc, 29, 1, 1-31 January 1992, pp. 10414-15.
45. Africa South of the Sahara, 1595, p. 600. However, the announcement of the results of the presidential voting was greeted with violence in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. See The New York Times, 27 January 1992.
46. Africa South of the Sahara, 1595, p. 600. However, the announcement of the results of the presidential voting was greeted with violence in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. See The New York Times, 27 January 1992.
47. ARB: psc, 29, 1, 1-31 January 1992, p. 10415.
48. Ibid. 29, 2, 1-29 February 1992, pp. 10457-8.
49. Africa Report (New York), 37, 2, March-April 1992, p. 7.
50. ARB: psc, 29, 3, 1-31 March 1992, p. 10499. Non-PRDS candidates winning seats included ten independents, one from the PMR and two from Ould Baba's RDU. In the second round, however, voter turnout declined to only about 33 per cent.
51. Ibid.
52. For a variety of reasons including the UFD-led boycott (which for the senatorial elections included the RDU), only the PRDS and the Baathist Parti de l'avant garde nationale (PAGN) fielded candidates for the Sénat. Three additional seats, not chosen in April 1992, were allocated for Mauritanians residing abroad; all went to the PRDS in mid-May 1994. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 3rd Quarter 1994, p. 29.
53. The 18 April 1992 Cabinet was composed entirely of civilians, except for Colonel Ahmed Ould Minnih, who was named Minister of Defence. For a listing of Government ministers, see ARB: psc, 29, 4, 1-30 April 1992, p. 10531.
54. Ibid. 29, 6, 1-30 June 1992, p. 10612. Ahmed Ould Daddah was formally elevated to the leadership of the UFD in June 1992.
55. ARB: psc, 30, 3, 1-31 March 1993, p. 10928, and 30, 6, 1-20 June 1993, p. 11044.
56. ARB: psc, 30, 3, 1-31 March 1993, p. 10928, and 30, 6, 1-20 June 1993, p. 11044.
57. EIU Report, Mauritania, 3rd Quarter 1993, pp. 30-1.
58. Ibid. 1st Quarter 1994, p. 35, and Mohamedou, op. cit. p. 228. Further tarnishing the lustre of the opposition was the fact that the UFD captured only 17 councils, while independent candidates garnered the remainder. The UPD completely failed to obtain any local representation, while the RDU presented its few candidates in co-operation with the PRDS.
59. Ibid. 1st Quarter 1994, p. 35, and Mohamedou, op. cit. p. 228. Further tarnishing the lustre of the opposition was the fact that the UFD captured only 17 councils, while independent candidates garnered the remainder. The UPD completely failed to obtain any local representation, while the RDU presented its few candidates in co-operation with the PRDS.
60. EIU Report, Mauritania, 2nd Quarter 1994, p. 30.
61. An example of this was Al-Bayane, edited by Yahia Ould Béchir, who was interviewed in The Courier, 137, January-February 1993, pp. 36-7. The independent newspaper encountered financial difficulties and ceased publication by early 1995. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quater 1995, p. 32. For more on the country's press, see Mohamedou, op. cit. pp. 166-8.
62. An example of this was Al-Bayane, edited by Yahia Ould Béchir, who was interviewed in The Courier, 137, January-February 1993, pp. 36-7. The independent newspaper encountered financial difficulties and ceased publication by early 1995. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quater 1995, p. 32. For more on the country's press, see Mohamedou, op. cit. pp. 166-8.
63. An example of this was Al-Bayane, edited by Yahia Ould Béchir, who was interviewed in The Courier, 137, January-February 1993, pp. 36-7. The independent newspaper encountered financial difficulties and ceased publication by early 1995. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quater 1995, p. 32. For more on the country's press, see Mohamedou, op. cit. pp. 166-8.
64. One publication, the French-language Mauritanie nouvelle, was enjoined for three months in April 1996, but the Interior Minister who issued the order, Mohamed Lamine Salem Ould Dah, was dismissed early the following month. FBIS: NESA, 11 April 1996, p. 16, and 7 May 1996, p. 23.
65. One publication, the French-language Mauritanie nouvelle, was enjoined for three months in April 1996, but the Interior Minister who issued the order, Mohamed Lamine Salem Ould Dah, was dismissed early the following month. FBIS: NESA, 11 April 1996, p. 16, and 7 May 1996, p. 23.
66. Ibid. 3 October 1994, pp. 24-5, 11 October 1994, pp. 24-6, and 14 October 1994, pp. 12-14.
67. Ibid. 3 October 1994, pp. 24-5, 11 October 1994, pp. 24-6, and 14 October 1994, pp. 12-14.
68. Ibid. 3 October 1994, pp. 24-5, 11 October 1994, pp. 24-6, and 14 October 1994, pp. 12-14.
69. Ibid. 12 October 1994, p. 23.
70. See Catherine Simon, 'God Beckons for Mauritania's Dispossessed', in the Manchester Guardian Weekly, 16 April 1995, p. 15. For coverage of earlier Islamist activity in Mauritania, see EIU Report, Mauritania, 4th Quarter 1993, p. 30.
71. See Catherine Simon, 'God Beckons for Mauritania's Dispossessed', in the Manchester Guardian Weekly, 16 April 1995, p. 15. For coverage of earlier Islamist activity in Mauritania, see EIU Report, Mauritania, 4th Quarter 1993, p. 30.
72. FBIS: NESA, 8 November 1994, p. 30.
73. Ibid. 22 February 1995, p. 23, and Africa South of the Sahara, 1996 (London, 1996), pp. 609-10.
74. Ibid. 22 February 1995, p. 23, and Africa South of the Sahara, 1996 (London, 1996), pp. 609-10.
75. 52 EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quarter 1995, p. 30, and West Africa, 30 January-5 February 1995, p. 151. All the detainees were released by 3 February 1995.
76. 52 EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quarter 1995, p. 30, and West Africa, 30 January-5 February 1995, p. 151. All the detainees were released by 3 February 1995.
77. Outside pressures were also instrumental in gaining the release after 48 hours of Cheikh Saad Bouh Kamara, a Mauritanian intellectual detained in January 1994 for making statements to the effect that slavery still existed in the country. FBIS: NESA, 25 January 1994, pp. 16-17.
78. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 4th Quarter 1995, p. 28, and FBIS: NESA, 24 October 1995, pp. 17-18. The Iraqi ambassador in Nouakchott was expelled simultaneously with the arrests.
79. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 4th Quarter 1995, p. 28, and FBIS: NESA, 24 October 1995, pp. 17-18. The Iraqi ambassador in Nouakchott was expelled simultaneously with the arrests.
80. FBIS: NESA, 11 December 1995, p. 22.
81. As many as 33 of the 52 accused Baathists were acquitted outright and released, while the rest were relieved of all punishment by an appeals court. EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quarter 1996, pp. 28-9.
82. Ibid. 4th Quarter 1995, pp. 28-9. For Ahmed Ould Daddah's reaction to the arrests, see FBIS: NESA, 31 October 1995, pp. 47-8.
83. Ibid. 4th Quarter 1995, pp. 28-9. For Ahmed Ould Daddah's reaction to the arrests, see FBIS: NESA, 31 October 1995, pp. 47-8.
84. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quarter 1995, pp. 30-1, and 2nd Quarter 1995, pp. 27-8. Also Jeune Afrique, 1787, 6-12 April 1995, pp. 16-18.
85. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quarter 1995, pp. 30-1, and 2nd Quarter 1995, pp. 27-8. Also Jeune Afrique, 1787, 6-12 April 1995, pp. 16-18.
86. See EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quarter 1995, pp. 30-1, and 2nd Quarter 1995, pp. 27-8. Also Jeune Afrique, 1787, 6-12 April 1995, pp. 16-18.
87. EIU Report, Mauritania, 4th Quarter 1995, p. 29.
88. ARB: psc, 31, 6, 1-31 June 1994, pp. 11472-3.
89. EIU Report, Mauritania, 2nd Quarter 1995, p. 27.
90. Another prominent figure from the period of military rule, an ex-Minister of the Interior, Djibril Ould Abdellahi (also known as Gabriel Cimper), reconciled with President Ould Taya in late 1994. Ibid. 4th Quarter 1994, pp. 28-9.
91. Ibid. 3rd Quarter 1995, pp. 25 and 27.
92. Ibid. and FBIS: NESA, 26 July 1995, pp. 18-19.
93. Ibid. and FBIS: NESA, 26 July 1995, pp. 18-19.
94. See ARB: psc, 32, 8, 1-31 August 1995, p. 11950, and FBIS: NESA, 18 August 1995, pp. 16-17. Action pour changement was the twentieth Mauritanian political party to be formed since August 1991.
95. See ARB: psc, 32, 8, 1-31 August 1995, p. 11950, and FBIS: NESA, 18 August 1995, pp. 16-17. Action pour changement was the twentieth Mauritanian political party to be formed since August 1991.
96. ARB: psc, 33, 2, 1-29 February 1996, p. 12153. The Sénat elections were rescheduled for 10 April 1996, and, as expected, went heavily in favour of the PRDS.
97. West Africa, 15-21 July 1996, p. 1091, and EIU Report, 3rd Quarter 1996, pp. 30-2.
98. West Africa, 15-21 July 1996, p. 1091, and EIU Report, 3rd Quarter 1996, pp. 30-2.
99. The Boston Globe, 13 October 1996.
100. Interviewed by Reuters, 13 October 1996.
101. West Africa, 28 October-5 November 1996, pp. 1663-4, and François Soudan, Où est passée l'opposition?', in Jeune Afrique, 1869, 30 October-5 November 1996, pp. 26-7.
102. West Africa, 28 October-5 November 1996, pp. 1663-4, and François Soudan, Où est passée l'opposition?', in Jeune Afrique, 1869, 30 October-5 November 1996, pp. 26-7.
103. West Africa, 4-10 November 1996, p. 1703.
104. Mohamedou, op. cit. p. 184.
105. See Mohameden Ould-Mey, Global Restructuring and Peripheral States: the carrot and the stick in Mauritania (Lanham, MD, 1996), pp. 93-163.
106. EIU Report, Mauritania, 1st Quarter 1996, p. 31.
107. US State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993 (Washington, DC, 1994), p. 180, and ...for 1994 (Washington, DC, 1995), p. 162.
108. US State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993 (Washington, DC, 1994), p. 180, and ...for 1994 (Washington, DC, 1995), p. 162.
109. See Mohamedou, op. cit. pp. 215-22.