afrol News, 20 June - Less than one week before the holding of a constitutional referendum that is to introduce democracy, Mauritania has been close to fall victim to yet another military coup. Yesterday, sources in Dakar confirm, the military leaders in Nouakchott managed to stop a coup plot without bloodshed. The alleged coup was to have been planned by family and clan members of ex-President Maouya Ould Taya, who was overthrown in August last year.

According to sources in neighbouring Senegal, the transitional authorities in Mauritania barely managed to avoid the organisation of a coup by a strong "tribal" military power surrounding the exiled ex-President. The Senegalese daily 'Sud Quotidien' has been in contact with Mauritanian officials confirming that a group of "mercenaries" - mainly of the Tuareg people established in the Saharan border region with Mali - had infiltrated the country with the intention of creating general confusion in a situation that should lead to a military coup.

Mauritanian authorities had been aware of the potential danger for some time, deciding to let events develop normally but under close surveillance. At an opportune moment, however, the suspected were arrested, as sufficient evidence and indications had been collected.

The calm and patient approach is seen as a trademark of the new transitional regime in Nouakchott, which makes great efforts to create a state of law and order, respecting democratic institutions and the independence of the judiciary. The military junta led by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall has repeatedly marked its distance to the authoritarian methods used by ex-President Ould Taya.

Yesterday, however, abortive action was taken. According to the Nouakchott sources of 'Sud Quotidien', all the detained and implicated persons belonged to the Samasida clan, to which also ex-President Ould Taya's family belongs. The alleged leader of the coup plot was said to be a certain Mohammed Ali, Mauritania's former consul in Dakar. The former Nouakchott trader had made a steep diplomatic career under the protection of his family member Ould Taya's regime, which ended abruptly almost one year ago.

Sources in Dakar also cite other co-authors to the alleged coup plot, including colonel Ould Vaida, a Haratine (ex-slave) of Mr Ould Taya's clan. Colonel Chrouf - allegedly an infamous torturer during the ancien regime and accused of being involved in a coup in 2003 - was also named among the leading heads behind the coup plot. Finally, former commander of the national marine, colonel Abderrahmane Ould Lekwar, has been named as part of the group.

The alleged leaders behind the coup plot are all known to be close to ex-President Ould Taya, who live in exile in Qatar. Several sources therefore speculate that the Mauritanian ex-Dictator himself stood behind the planning of a coup before the transitional government is to start its series of referendums and elections to establish a government based on democratic principles.

The current regime in Nouakchott, since it took power on 3 August last year, has stood firmly by its decision to transform Mauritania into a democratic and modern state. The transition process is already well advanced, and many key institutions have been thoroughly reformed. The national press landscape experiences a renaissance as censorship has been abolished, party politics are blossoming and the legislative is being liberated from political influence.

The first important step in reintroducing democracy will however be done in the upcoming weekend, as Mauritanians are to say "yes" or "no" to a new constitution that secures democratic institutions in a nation-wide referendum. This is followed by parliamentary and local elections in October and presidential elections in 2007, where the current transitional leaders do not intend to participate.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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