Election Tracker
Archive Search
Mauritania
At stake: President
Background
Located between Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali and Senegal, Mauritania gained its independence from France in 1960. The country has a mostly Arab-Berber population in the North, and a Black African population in the south.
In July 1978, Mauritania's first president—Moktar Daddah—was deposed in a coup orchestrated by Mustafa Ould Salek. In June 1979, Salek would cede power to Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly, who in turn was toppled in January 1980 by his prime minister, Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla. In 1981, Mauritania became one of the last countries to ban slavery.
In 1984, Maaouiya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya took power in the North African country after a coup d'etat. Taya managed to remain at the helm after winning presidential votes in 1992 and 1997, the last with more than 90 per cent of all cast ballots.
In November 2003, Taya was elected to a new term in office. The government did not allow international observers to monitor the ballot.
Click here for 2003 Mauritania Election Tracker
On Aug. 3, 2005, army colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall led a bloodless coup to topple Taya, who was in Saudi Arabia for King Fahd's funeral. Vall—the director of the Military Council for Justice and Democracy (CMJD)—justified his actions, saying they were meant to end a "totalitarian" regime. Vall also vowed to hold a presidential election within two years. Sidy Mohamed Ould Boubacar was appointed as prime minister.
In June 2006, Mauritanian voters overwhelmingly approved a series of constitutional changes in a referendum, including a provision that limits the president to two five-year terms.
While Mauritania remains one of the world's poorest nations, the Chinguetti and Tiof offshore oil and natural gas reserves are seen as a possible source of revenue.
2006 National Assembly Election
The legislative election, considered as the first step in Mauritania's return to democracy, was scheduled for Nov. 19. The Senate ballot will take place on Jan. 21, 2007, followed by a presidential contest on Mar. 11.
On Oct. 3, Forces of Change for Democracy (CFCD) leader Ould Boulkheir urged the African Union (AU) to act in Mauritania's democratic process, saying, "The AU cannot close its eyes in the face of the current drifts by the Military Council for Justice and Democracy (CMJD). We think that it should do something together with the rest of the international community, to put the transition back on track."
On Oct. 4, an observer mission from the European Union (EU) arrived in Nouakchott to review Mauritania's pre-electoral preparations.
Voting took place on Nov. 19. Former Burundian president Pierre Buyoya—who headed a team of monitors from the International Organization of French Speaking Countries (OIF)—said the ballot was conducted under "good conditions", adding, "I would not be surprised that Mauritania serve as a model for other countries." European Parliament member Alain Hutchisnon declared, "Our impressions are quite positive. Everything was quite good and transparent. The people of Mauritania very much want democracy—they wanted these elections."
Partial results released on Nov. 21 indicated that 53 of the 95 seats at stake would be decided in a run-off—scheduled for Dec. 3—after no candidate received at least 50 per cent of the vote.
Run-off voting took place on Dec. 3. Final results gave Al-Mithaq—a group of moderate Islamist independents—41 seats, followed by the Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD) with 15 mandates, and the Union of Forces of Progress (UFP) with eight seats.
2007 Presidential Election
On Jan. 4, the Forces of Change for Democracy (CFCD) requested the assistance of the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the French-language grouping Francophonie to ensure a fair process during the presidential election. In a letter, the CFCD "vigorously denounces the blatant undermining of the transition authorities' neutrality." The CFCD alleged that the junta is "now running an open campaign in favour of one candidate."
The list of 19 presidential candidates includes Ahmed Ould Daddah of the Rally of Democratic Forces, former military ruler Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, failed coup leader Mohamed Ould Cheikhna, and independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi--who has denied being the candidate who represents the ruling junta.
In an interview with the Associated Press published on Mar. 9, Vall discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "As long as Mauritanians keep on thinking of the president as someone that is indispensable, they will continue to make a monumental error of judgment. It's that kind of thinking that leads to dictatorship."
Voting took place on Mar. 11. Final results placed Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in first place with 24.80 per cent, followed by Ahmed Ould Daddah with 20.69 per cent, and independent contender Zeine Ould Zeidane with 15.28 per cent. The top two vote-getters will participate in a run-off, scheduled for Mar. 25.
On Mar. 17, Zeidane endorsed Abdallahi, declaring, "We discussed growth, employment, poverty and increased participation in the economic, political and social life of our country. We have a total convergence of opinions on these issues."
The run-off took place on Mar. 25. Final results gave Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi 52.85 per cent of the vote, and Ahmed Ould Daddah with 47.15 per cent. Abdallahi struck a conciliatory tone in his first victory message, saying, "I will be open to all to assure the widest possible participation in the construction of our country."
European Union (EU) observer mission chief Marie-Anne Isler Beguin praised the electoral process, saying, "Nothing has stopped the process. There have been no incidents, no unauthorized people in polling stations."
On Apr. 19, Abdallahi was sworn in. In his inauguration speech, the new president praised the Military Council for Justice and Democracy (CMJD) for keeping its word and handing over power to a civilian, saying this made Mauritania "an undisputable model of a peaceful ending to a monolithic era." Abdallahi said he would try to build a government of consensus, declaring, "We need to start with a new concept of its role, and exclude autocratic behaviour and the solitary exercise of power."
Abdallahi also referred to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, adding, "Mauritania will continue to stand by the struggle of the Palestinian people to recover their legitimate rights on their national soil."
On Apr. 20, Abdallahi appointed Zeine Ould Zeidane—who had endorsed him in the run-off—as prime minister.
Political Players
President: Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi
Prime minister: Zeine Ould Zeidane
The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote. A president can only serve for two terms.
Legislative Branch: The Barlamane/Parlement (Parliament) has two chambers. The Al Jamiya al-Wataniyah/Assemblée Nationale (National Assembly) has 95 members, elected to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The Majlis al-Shuyukh/Sénat (Senate) has 56 members, 53 members are elected to a six-year terms by councilors, and three members are elected by Mauritanians who live outside the country.
Results of Last Election:
President - Mar. 11 and Mar. 25, 2007.
Mar. 11 | Mar. 25 | |
Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi | 24.80% | 52.85% |
Ahmed Ould Daddah - | 20.69% | 47.15% |
Zeine Ould Zeidane | 15.28% | -- |
Messaoud Ould Boulkheir - | 9.79% | -- |
Ibrahima Moctar Sarr | 7.95% | -- |
Saleh Ould Hanenna - | 7.65% | -- |
Mohamed Ould Maouloud - | 4.08% | -- |
Dahane Ould Ahmed Mahmoud | 2.07% | -- |
Mohamed Ould Cheikhna | 1.92% | -- |
Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla | 1.73% | -- |
Ethmane Ould Cheikh Ebi El Maali | 1.47% | -- |
Ba Mamadou Alassane - | 0.55% | -- |
Mohamed Ahmed Ould Baba Ahmed Ould Salihi | 0.38% | -- |
Moulaye El Hacen Ould Jeid - | 0.34% | -- |
Chbih Ould Cheikh Malainine | 0.28% | -- |
Rajel dit Rachid Moustapha - | 0.27% | -- |
Sidi Ould Isselmou Ould Mohamed Ahid | 0.24% | -- |
Isselmou Ould El Moustapha - | 0.24% | -- |
Mohamed Ould Mohamed El Moctar Ould Tomi | 0.20% | -- |
Mohamed Ould Ghoulam Ould Sidaty | 0.09% | -- |
National Assembly - Nov. 19 and Dec. 3, 2006
Seats | |
Al-Mithaq | 41 |
Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD) | 15 |
Union of Forces of Progress (UFP) | 8 |
Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal (PRDR) | 7 |
People's Progressive Alliance (APP) | 5 |
Rally for Democracy and Unity (RDU) | 3 |
Union for Democracy and Progress (UDP) | 3 |
Mauritanian Party of Union and Change (HATEM) | 2 |
Democratic Renovation Party (RD) | 2 |
Rally of Democratic Forces - | 2 |
Mauritanian Party of Union and Change - | 2 |
Popular Front Party (FP) | 1 |
Social-Democratic Unionist Party (PUDS) | 1 |
National Rally for Democracy, Liberty and Equality (RNLDE) | 1 |
Union of the Democratic Center (UCD) | 1 |
Alternative (Mauritania) | 1 |