CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Alexis Gnonlonfoun, Mauritania, June 1998
THEME = DEMOCRACY
Nouakchott recently hosted the second congress of
French-speaking ombudsmen
and on completion of this meeting, the Association of French-speaking ombudsmen
was founded on the 21 May 1998, with 15 member states
Similar to those for French-speaking parliamentarians and mayors, this association has the task of acting as a forum for collaboration and cooperation between the member states. This congress has stressed the necessary independence of the ombudsman (see box) from political and legal authorities, and insists on the role of the ombudsman in reinforcing democracy and human rights.
Much interest awaits the outcome of the meeting of this congress at Nouakchott. First of all, because Mauritania is "terrorised" by demands for democracy; then, because of the huge problems suffered by this country, it is seen as the strategy intended to prevent the worst from happening, from need rather than choice. By honouring the government in holding this meeting in Mauritania, the decision-makers obviously believed that the time had come for quick and effective negotiations with President Ould Taya, to obtain French-speaking rights.
Dreaming of hegemony - Everything seems to show that it is because Saddam Hussein of Iraq, the protector of Ould Taya, has now been reduced to the level of an inoffensive spectator and any chance of armed conflict is now remote. The strong man of Nouakchott knows very well that even if the dream of hegemony held by the Bassist movement, inspired by Saddam Hussein, has perhaps been shattered after the Gulf War, he has nonetheless not abandoned the idea of creating an Arab nation, stretching from the banks of the Euphrates to the Senegal river. For this reason, Colonel Taya has adopted a new strategy without giving up his previous ambitions, that of making his country an exclusively Arab nation, and extending the southern borders of Mauritania to the middle of the Senegal River. Neither the democratisation process underway in the country for some time, nor the election charades of the last few months, can mask his real intentions.
Glimmer of hope - There is a glimmer of hope, however. The government has announced its intention of setting up the institution of "ombudsman". Mauritanian citizens will thus have a new range of options. From now on, the ombudsman will have the task of defending the interests of people who are hoping to free themselves, and of supporting democratic forces and those who are striving for change within Mauritania. The use of the French language can and must help towards this development, if it is truly concerned with the legitimate aspirations of the people.
As regards what is presently happening in Mauritania, the concern is to remain faithful to the general principles of respect for human rights, which are constantly being violated in this country, and to denounce the policy of apartheid which is rampant on the northern border.
The African Negro community - We should remember that, since the conflict between Senegal and Mauritania in April 1989, the Mauritanian authorities, through the medium of Djibril Ould Abdellah (alias Gabriel Cimper) on Radio Senegal, have identified the Al Pulaar ethnic group as trouble-makers, responsible for the conflict between the two countries. The intentions of Nouakchott were made clear through this official line: to isolate the Al Pulaar from the other national groups in the two countries, in order to break up the forces struggling against the racist policies of the Mauritanian government.
The sole purpose of this operation was to exclude the African Negro community of Mauritania and to obtain a level of compliance from the Senegalese government and the other national groupings in Senegal. It must be acknowledged that this confusion, maintained over a long period by Nouakchott is currently causing serious problems for those on the fringes of society. Fortunately, with this 2nd Congress of Ombudsmen, some of those taking part have given some slight consideration to the outlines of this problem, and their conclusions are sufficient to show now that it was only a means to gain time.
Supporting the marginalised - In the opinion of observers, the struggle of marginalised people must be supported, and the problems properly enunciated and solutions sought for the continuing, enslaving crisis. So, work is required to make people aware of the situation, and to provide all the information needed to properly understand the problems.
The situation prevailing in Nouakchott, far from being a simple family quarrel, is actually the result of Mauritania's dream, as it turns towards the Arab world, of forming part of an Arab nation stretching from the Tiger to the Euphrates and the Senegal River, at the risk of upsetting the geopolitical balance south of the Sahara. The examples of the Tuareg in Mali and Niger are part of the same trend.
There is also reason to stress that the Mauritanian political context impacts, through the madness experienced in daily life, the political parties in general, who consider themselves to be the sole guardians of national problems. Any organisation which avoids their direct control is suspect in their view. This means paying close attention to this new phenomenon, in order better to understand the danger of marginalising a part of the Mauritanian people who are fighting for their dignity as human beings.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement