Mauritania Reaches Democratic Power Sharing Agreement
By Ayanda Gladile
July 1, 2009 | Printer Friendly

Political and military leaders in Mauritania have signed an agreement creating a transitional government before presidential elections in July. It was reported that this deal seeks to end the political crisis sparked by a coup last August against Mauritania's first freely elected leader. According to this deal, current President Sidi Ould Cheik Abdallahi will lead a Government of National Unity that replaces the ruling military council until new elections July 18th.

The National Front opposition leader, Mouhamed Lemine Ould Haless, said “the power-sharing agreement is a victory for democracy that puts an end to military rule and rejects the use of force” and the leader of Alliance of Democratic Forces Ahmed Ould Dadah told his supporters that “the accord is a victory for the people of Mauritania, a victory of reason over violence, and a victory for patriotism. He says it is the start of the democracy that Mauritanians want”.

African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra said “there is still a lot of work ahead to make this deal work…It requires a lot of goodwill, a lot of good faith on the part of the stakeholders. We believe that consensus is the master word in reaching the agreement as well as in implementing it". He went on to say “this has been a very, very important development in multi-lateral diplomacy, in the way that peaceful processes are being conducted. This solution to the crisis will also be very significant in terms of lessons learned, in terms of also commitment on the part of the international community to assist the Mauritanians to make peace and to deepen democracy".

It was also reported that if no candidate reaches an absolute majority on July 18th, the power-sharing agreement calls for a second round of balloting August 1st.
 
References

Voice of America: Mauritania to Form Transitional Government