Mauritanian Senatorial Elections Show Next Step in Transition to Democracy
January 22, 2007

In what the Washington Post is calling Mauritania’s “latest democracy step,” the country has held elections for the 56-seat Senate.  The report says that Senate seats were to be elected by 3,688 municipal councilors.  According to Racine Sy, local political analyst, “Mauritanians are pleased with all the elections.”  Results are expected in the next few days. 

The elections follow an August 2005 bloodless military coup that overthrew strongman President Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya.  Following the overthrow, the military junta “pledged to hand over power to the winner of a presidential election…”  The Washington Post says that the presidential election is scheduled for March 11, and will be seen “as a test of the promised democratic handover by the military junta” by foreign governments.  There are currently 20 candidates in the race for the presidency.

References:

Reuters: Mauritania elects Senate in latest democracy step

Voice of America: Mauritania Holds Senate Election in Post-Coup Process