afrol News, 2 September - Mauritanian citizens have been urged to "rise up and save democracy" from being eroded.

Alioune Tine, the secretary general of the Dakar-based African Rally for the Defence of Human Rights (RADHO), told journalists after a meeting with General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in the capital Nouachott that he has "come to Mauritania to encourage its citizens to regain their seat in the world community."

Mr. Tine's message has been directed to all stakeholders, the military, political parties, and civil society organisations.

Mr. Tine, whose non-governmental organisation has been working on Mauritania for the past two decades, believes that "democracy is a learning process" that allows countries to stumble and fall down before get back to their feet.

He explains how the West African country's last military coup had derailed the positive efforts of the last transition from military to civilian rule. Tine says the two-year transition, followed by a successful democratic elections in the country in over 40 years, has been hailed throughout the world.

General Abel Aziz, formerly the head of presidential guards, led military officials to oust the country's democratically elected president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi from power on 6 August.

However, the ruling military high state council has been under intense international pressure to restore contitutional rule in the country. After almost a month in office, the junta on Sunday named a 28-member cabinet, though it is yet to announce the date of elections.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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