Mauritania news

Mali: UNHCR Addresses Needs of 20,000 Forced to Flee Violence in Mali

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:46:40 GMT

[UNHCR] Geneva - The UN refugee agency has deployed emergency teams to countries surrounding Mali to help meet the needs of some 20,000 people who have been forced to flee fighting in the north of the country. Most of the displaced are in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

Mali: Tuareg Rebellion Forces Thousands Into Exile

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:33:59 GMT

[UNHCR] UNHCR has deployed emergency teams to countries surrounding Mali to help meet the needs of some 20,000 people who have been forced to flee fighting in northern Mali. Most of the displaced are in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

UN: 20,000 Who Fled Violence in Mali Need Help

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:03:11 GMT

UNHCR says it has sent emergency teams to Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania to help refugees forced to flee their homes

Mauritania: Displaced Malians Burden Food-Insecure Hosts

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:49:54 GMT

[IRIN] Bamako/Dakar - Some 12,000 Malians have fled fighting in the towns of Ménaka and Anderamboucane in northern Mali and reached already food-insecure villages around Tillabéri in western Niger, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Niger's capital, Niamey.

Mauritania takes tourists to red zone

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:43:00 GMT

Nouakchott - Mauritania has invited a group of French tourists to visit the north of the country and boost tourism which has been hard-hit by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the tourism ministry said on Monday.

Mauritania brings tourists to 'red zone' to prove safety

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:55 GMT

Mauritania has invited a group of French tourists to visit the north of the country and boost tourism which has been hard-hit by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the tourism...

SAHEL: Displaced Malians burden food-insecure hosts

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

BAMAKO/DAKAR 06 February 2012 (IRIN) - Some 12,000 Malians have fled fighting in the towns of Ménaka and Anderamboucane in northern Mali and reached already food-insecure villages around Tillabéri in western Niger, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Niger’s capital, Niamey.

SAHEL: Donors learning funding lessons - slowly

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

DAKAR 06 February 2012 (IRIN) - This year donors are stepping up more quickly to meet Sahel’s humanitarian needs compared to 2010, when they were slow to respond. However, they are still at fault for taking a quick-fix approach rather than addressing long-term disaster prevention and resilience needs, say aid groups.

In Mauritania, Sunny With A Chance Of Locusts

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:16:28 GMT

In this outpost in the Sahara Desert, scientists are working feverishly to add a "Biblical problem" to the weather forecasts: The Desert Locust Center here in the capital of Mauritania, an enormous and sandy West-African country, is employing all kinds of technology - from "eLocust" computing devices to satellite images and crowdsourced locust ... (more)

In Mauritania, sunny with a chance of locusts

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:00:58 GMT

Technology fights locust swarms in Mauritania

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:52:58 GMT

Workshop on Mauritania's Special Economic Zone begins

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:15:11 GMT

NOUADHIBOU, Mauritania: A workshop on comprehensive studies related to the initiative of the special economic zone in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, started Tuesday.

West Africa: UN Officials Calls for Action on Sahel Problems

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:02:13 GMT

UN News (New York)-The United Nations political chief today called for the establishment of a mechanism to address the myriad challenges facing countries in West Africa's Sahel region, which, he said, include a humanitarian crisis, lack of socio-economic development, insecurity and the threat of terrorism.

Too many boats catching too few fish

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:45:00 GMT

It is no secret that Europe’s seas, once teeming with life, are now unable to provide fish for all its citizens. EU governments and the fishing industry have known for decades that they catch more than their seas can provide, so much so that the European Commission itself has acknowledged that close to 90% of all fish stocks in Europe are being overfished. It is also no secret that, as stocks has declined, fishing fleets have increasingly ventured further away to keep up the seemingly endless supply of fish that we enjoy in Europe. Today, almost half of all fish sold in the EU is caught outside EU waters.

One destination of choice for Europe’s largest fleets is the coast of West Africa. Close to Europe and with a wealth of marine life, this part of the world has always been ideal for fishing. The EU has long entered into partnerships with African states that allow its boats to access lucrative fishing grounds. On the face of it this seems fair; the EU pays money to African countries for their resource. But look closer and you will find a skewed and unjust reality. West Africa’s waters are no longer the plentiful seas they once were. This region too has suffered from decades of overfishing particularly by foreign fleets. The last 20 years or more have seen a surge of industrial – sometimes factory-sized vessels from Russia and Asia, as well as from Europe to West Africa.

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At the same time, West Africa’s own coastal communities are increasingly becoming dependent on their seas for their livelihoods, income and quite simply for their nourishment. As an oceans campaigner with Greenpeace working in both Europe and West Africa, I have had the privilege to join our team in Dakar to visit several fishing communities in Senegal, Mauritania and Cape Verde, to see and hear firsthand how overfishing is taking its toll on both our oceans and the people that depend on them.

The stories are the same wherever you go. Local fishermen are witnessing the plunder of their seas by foreign trawlers. The result is that they need to fish farther and farther out to sea, risk their lives in doing so and return with only a fraction of what was once was a normal catch. Foreign trawlers tear up the sea floor, destroy entire habitats and literally suck up all the fish that is of any value.

As the EU undergoes a critical reform of the way they manage their fisheries (EU Common Fisheries Policy), we now have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to help shape that reform for the better. Part of this overhaul needs to be a move away from destructive and excessive fishing both in Europe and elsewhere. We need to source our fish in a way that neither compromises the integrity of our ocean ecosystems nor the livelihoods of local communities.

In early 2011, we invited fishermen from West Africa to nine cities across Europe to tell their stories directly to decision makers, including those at the very top in Brussels. While Senegal ended its formal partnership with the EU in 2006, the country still suffers from historic, as well as current overfishing by foreign industrial fleets. Our team in Dakar continues to work with local fishermen. Last week over 6000 signatures were collected across Senegal’s fishing communities to send a clear message to their government that it needs to look to the future by protecting our oceans and not allowing them to perish at the hands of the big industrial fleets.

Meanwhile, our teams in Europe have revealed just how many millions of Euros have gone into subsidising and literally keeping afloat some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated fishing vessels - the very vessels that form part of the unrelenting fleet that continue to plunder the waters of West Africa. These boats would run at a loss were it not for the generosity of EU taxpayers!

Unfortunately, like almost everywhere in the world, there are now too many boats catching too few fish in West Africa - and the people that suffer the most are those that depend almost exclusively on healthy seas for their survival.

There is however, hope: Europe can turn around its fishing policy to ensure truly sustainable and fair fisheries for all and still make a profit. Scientists predict that there would be 80% more fish in the sea if we managed our fisheries properly.

The EU must lead the world towards a more sustainable future for fish and fishing. This means cutting back the size of their fleet, in line with available fish resources, by removing the most destructive boats from the water first. Decision makers must adhere to science and never fish more than our seas can sustain. The EU should change the way they currently negotiate access to foreign waters. Instead of sending their largest boats to Africa, the EU should support the development of locally caught and processed fish. Finally priority must be given to low impact and sustainable fisheries that provide most benefits to coastal communities both in Europe and Africa.

Visit your national Greenpeace website and find out how you can help our oceans.

Farah Obaidullah is oceans campaigner with Greenpeace International

Christian Aid Responds to Worsening Sahel Hunger Crisis

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:48:25 GMT

Christian Aid (London)-With seven million people across five West African countries facing the spectre of famine within months, Christian Aid is stepping up its early response plans to assist those living in the stricken Sahel region.

West African states discuss Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram threat

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:39:05 GMT

West African security experts met in Nouakchott Monday on the threat posed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its possible ties to Islamist sect Boko Haram in Nigeria, a security source said.

Unesco Retracts Report On Development of Local Media

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:14:18 GMT

Tunisia Live (Tunis)-The UNESCO office charged with the oversight of Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania (headquartered in Rabat, Morocco) has recently retracted from its website a report entitled, "Final Report of the First Phase of the Evaluation of the Media in Tunisia." The report, which addresses the progress in the development of Tunisian Media, was conducted by Tunisian UNESCO consultant Sahbi Ben Nablia.

Crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409: despite the release of the official report, doubts still subsist

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:24:54 GMT

Surrounded by a veil of mystery that gave rise to multiple controversies, the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 off the coast of Beirut, on 25 January 2010, killed all 90 people on board. The Lebanese Transport Ministry has just issued its final report on the drama, concluding a pilot error was to blame without, however, providing any concrete evidence, such as a cockpit recording for example. Ethiopian Airlines sharply dismissed the report conclusions, arguing that, on the basis of (...) - 06. Controversies / Palestine/Israel , Lebanon , Mauritania , Low intensity warfare

Mauritania

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:31:44 GMT

Mauritania is a nation of north-western Africa , bounded by Senegal , Mali , Algeria , Western Sahara and the Atlantic Ocean .

Terror group video shows seized Mauritania soldier

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:56:12 GMT

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania Al-Qaida's North African branch has issued a new video that shows a Mauritanian officer who was recently captured by the terror group during a raid in the country's southeast.

New video from North African al-Qaida affiliate shows captured Mauritanian soldier

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:56:11 GMT

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania - Al-Qaida's North African branch has issued a new video that shows a Mauritanian officer who was recently captured by the terror group during a raid in the country's southeast.

Terror group video shows seized Mauritania soldier

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:28:41 GMT

Al-Qaida's North African branch has issued a new video that shows a Mauritanian officer who was recently captured by the terror group during a raid in the country's southeast.

Terror Group Video Shows Seized Mauritania Soldier

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:08:14 GMT

New video from North African al-Qaida affiliate shows captured Mauritanian soldier

Terror group video shows seized Mauritania soldier (AP)

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:07:15 GMT

AP - Al-Qaida's North African branch has issued a new video that shows a Mauritanian officer who was recently captured by the terror group during a raid in the country's southeast.

France examines alleged warning from al-Qaida arm of possible 'execution' of hostages

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:42:13 GMT

The language used in a purported message from al-Qaida's North Africa arm that threatens to kill European hostages if governments take military action to save them suggests it is an authentic warning, a top French counterterrorism official said Thursday.

AFRICA: AU wants peace, security and bigger global role in 2012

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON 12 January 2012 (IRIN) - The African Union (AU) has unveiled an ambitious wish-list of priorities for Africa that would give the continent a stronger global voice, boost democracy and encourage peace and security.

Inric Accuses Unesco Media Report of Plagiarism, Subjectivity, and 'Lack of Vigor'

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:29:57 GMT

Tunisia Live (Tunis)-On October 5, the UNESCO office charged with the oversight of Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania (located in Rabat, Morocco) published a report entitled, "Final Report of the First Phase of the Evaluation of the Media in Tunisia," on the development of Tunisian Media.

Mauritania: Terror Grips Town

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:08:08 GMT

Terror grips city of Kiffa in Mauritania: "Poet and filmmaker Mohamed Ould Idoumou, a Kiffa native, told Magharebia that that the city has never seen cases of terrorism before because of its isolated location in the desert." Terror grips city of Kiffa in Mauritania: "Poet and filmmaker Mohamed Ould Idoumou, a Kiffa native, told Magharebia that that ... (more)

Mauritania says it has uncovered an Israel spy network

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:06:55 GMT

Authorities in Mauritania have exposed a major Israeli spy network comprising a member involved in the "bombing" of the Ethiopian plane which crashed into Lebanon's territorial waters on January 25, 2010, a Mauritanian website has reported.

Qatar, Mauritania sign accords to boost ties

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:53:42 GMT

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Mauritanian President Sidi Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz witness the signing of an agreement between Qatar and Mauritania in Nouakchott yesterday Qatar and Mauritania signed a raft of agreements and memoranda of understanding with a view to further strengthening bilateral relations following a round of ... (more)

Emir on state visit to Mauritania

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:26:50 GMT

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani arrives in Nouakchott today for a state visit to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Indonesia enjoys relations with almost all UN member states: FM

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:36:40 GMT

JAKARTA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia enjoys relations with almost all member states of the United Nations following the setting up of diplomatic relations with nine countries in 2011, an official said here Wednesday. "In line with our commitment to establish diplomatic relations with all member states of the United Nations, throughout 2011, Indonesia officially opened diplomatic relations with nine countries, namely Mauritania, El Salvador, San Marino, Montenegro, the Dominican Republic, N ...

UAE leaders meet foreign counterparts

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:46:59 GMT

Top officials of the United Arab Emirates have met their counterparts from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Qatar and Lebanon to discuss a range of issues.

UAE leaders meet foreign counterparts

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:15:27 GMT

Top officials of the United Arab Emirates have met their counterparts from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Qatar and Lebanon to discuss a range of issues.

UAE leaders meet foreign counterparts

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:50:13 GMT

Top officials of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have met their counterparts from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Qatar and Lebanon to discuss a range of issues.

UAE Ambassador meets Mauritanian Minister of Social Affairs

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:00:28 GMT

WAM Nouakchott, Jan 3rd, 2012 -- UAE Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Abdullah Mohammed Al Takawi has held a meeting with Mauritanian Minister of Social Affairs, Childhood and Family Mawlati bint Al Mukhtar.

Rights Violations Condemned

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:44:28 GMT

HRInfo (Cairo)-ANHRI severely condemns Referral of a citizen to a rapid trial by the Attorney General for criticizing the Supreme Council for Armed Forces (SCAF). The citizen had distributed a communique on 23 December 2011, and thus was sentenced to one year in prison, a bail of 1000 pounds (approx. 166 $US), and a 200 pounds fine (approx. 33.2 $US) by Waylee Misdemeanor Court, in the quickest and harshest anti - freedom of expression trial ruling since 25 January revolution.

Businessman Condemns 'Terror' Warrant Against Him

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:21:40 GMT

RNW Africa (Hilversum)-A top businessman and a prominent critic of Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz denounced on Friday an arrest warrant issued against him for supporting terror groups.

Mauritania: Govt Issues Arrest Warrant Against Al-Qaeda Suspects

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:13:01 GMT

Mauritania issued an international warrant Wednesday for the arrest of an opponent of President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz for supporting terror groups in the Sahel region, a justice official told AFP.

What? You didn’t know your tax money is used to destroy our oceans?

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:16:00 GMT

The Friday before Christmas we revealed the hidden costs of European fisheries at two ports, IJmuiden in the Netherlands and Bremerhaven in Germany, by targeting some of the enormous supertrawlers represented by the Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (PFA). Activists painted the different amounts of taxpayer’s money used to keep these monstrous vessels in business on the hull of the ships. These huge floating fish factories catch, process and freeze giant quantities of fish: up to 300,000 kilograms per day; yet they continue to receive huge subsidies. For example, the huge 144-metre long vessel Annelies Ilena cost European taxpayers 28 million euro in the last five years.

These figures come from a report published by the Dutch economic research bureau Profundo last week. EU taxpayers have paid 142 million euro for the modernisation of PFA vessels and for their access to countries like Morocco and Mauritania to allow fishing within their waters during the last five years. But another part of this money is simply going up in smoke, due to the fact that these oil-guzzling factory vessels do not have to pay taxes on the fuel they use. Where you and I have to pay a large amount of duty each time we fill up our car or motorcycle with petrol (even if it is an energy efficient one), these vessels can hunt down the last remaining fish stocks all around the globe and do not have to worry about fuel taxes.

When confronted with our protest, the spokesperson of the Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association, Mr van Balsfoort, responded irritably, saying that we should not target their ships but should instead complain to the EU in Brussels when we have a problem with their fishing practices.

He is right. It’s the European Union that makes this grotesque tax abuse possible. Currently, the European policy that should regulate fisheries, called the Common Fisheries Policy, or CFP, is being reformed, something that happens only once every ten years. Of course we have to make sure that the current policy, which is responsible for about three quarters of the European fish stocks being overfished, will be reformed in a way that ensures that fish stocks can recover.

But apart from complaining, we are also bearing witness and show the world what is happening at sea. By taking action against the destruction of sensitive deep sea habitats by EU-funded fishing vessels, we questioned how fisheries subsidies are going to criminals that fish illegally, and last Friday we made sure that people throughout Europe became aware of the millions of tax Euros that are invested in exporting overcapacity of our obese fishing fleet to poor countries - just as the PFA does.

That’s why we were in IJmuiden and Bremerhaven: to show how this tax abuse looks like in real life. Mr. van Balsfoort can complain about the fact that we target their vessels instead of the bureaucrats in the European Commission, but he has nothing to complain about. The companies that are part of the PFA have pocketed millions and millions of Euros in subsidies over the years. If they were real entrepreneurs, they would not be depending on government handouts for keeping their businesses alive. They would go for a level playing field in which also smaller fishermen have a chance to earn a living from the sea.

Pavel Klinckhamers is Oceans campaigner with Greenpeace Netherlands

The best, and worst, music of 2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:18:10 GMT

Lists, lists, lists. Music writers love lists! Here, CityBeat writers give you our favorite albums, EPs, compilations and musicians of 2011.

Moroccan Journalist Expelled

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:21:31 GMT

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Mauritanian authorities' Wednesday decision to expel a Moroccan journalist from the country. The Mauritanian government gave no reason for their decision.

The Re-emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:16:29 GMT

By Mohamed El Mokhtar

One of the most significant consequences of the so-called 'Arab Spring' is the forceful emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood as an influential political force and social movement in the Middle East. The movement seems, like a phoenix emerging from its ashes, capable of miraculous rebirth. Although its members were persecuted, to varying degrees, under the previous regimes in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt in particular, their political marginalization ironically enabled them to better refocus their energy on social activities. Thus, they were able to maintain, despite being legally banned, direct contact with local populations. Throughout the region they developed in the last decades, in Egypt in particular, a vast network of social structures often competing with or outbidding the government in the delivery of vital public services such as health and education and even in relief efforts during natural disasters.

Ultimately this long term direct engagement with civilian populations was critical in the development of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political leadership. In fact, the secret of its popular grounding lies primarily in its ability to cater to the basic needs of so many destitute people in the Arab world through its well established network of volunteers and welfare institutions.

After the fall of the dictatorships of Mubarak in Egypt and Zine El Abidine in Tunisia, the MB unsurprisingly turned out to be the most politically and socially organized political force. The triumph in November of the Islamist party Ennahda in the first free and democratic elections of Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly, in addition to the victory of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) in Morocco and the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) in Egypt this month, is testimony of its startling emergence. Moreover, the victory of the Libyan rebels, who have close connections at the grassroots as well as the leadership level with the local chapter of the MB, constitutes another indication of what may be a prelude to a new political dawn in the whole MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

From Morocco in the Maghreb to Syria in the Levant, the islamization of Arab societies seems an irreversible trend, which may mark a turning point in the political reconfiguration of this geostrategic region. The current Syrian and Yemeni uprisings are dominated by forces linked more or less to the MB such as the Yemeni Congregation for Reform to which belongs the 2011 Nobel Peace prize laureate Tawakul Karman.

Another consequence of this resurrection of the MB is perhaps the ongoing reconfiguration of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The expected reconciliation with Fatah and its eventual integration to the PLO may be a turning point in the evolution of the movement. Substituting a pragmatism-based view of national liberation, more in line with the ethos of the PLO, to the demagoguery of armed struggle will progressively change the outlook of the militant group. An intifada a la Tahrir Square or a la Soweto will, in the end, be more consequential for the Palestinian quest for Freedom than an armed resistance that is neither organized nor well thought out.

The Muslim Brotherhood has also a strong grounding in Jordan. The Islamic Action Front Party (IAFP), currently the main opposition party, would in all likelihood be the main political party had there been free and democratic elections in the country. It has gained over the years a relatively strong footing in Kuwait’s political landscape with the political party El Hadeth despite that country’s archaic political system and continuing institutional volatility. The newly director of Al Jazeera News network Sheikh Hamed Ben Thamer Al Thany is believed to have strong connections with the movement. The network overall editorial line is very sympathetic to the ideology of the movement. Its conspicuously biased reports of the recent uprisings in Libya and Syria are a good indicator of its leaning in favor of the movement.

Furthermore, the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood is noticeable throughout North Africa and the Middle East. In effect, it is today a very influential social and political movement that is represented in parliaments in countries as far afield as Mauritania where the party Tawassoul is one of the major opposition parties.

But the center of gravity of the movement remains undoubtedly Egypt. Its evolution in that country will be the most determining factor in its development elsewhere in the Arab world. Given the importance of Egypt, being at once the cultural center of gravity and the birthplace of the Muslim Brotherhood, an ascendance to power of the movement will have tremendous effects in the region; so will a structural reform of the movement. It would be tempting for instance to examine how the idea of the “Turkish model”[i] is now used there in Muslim Brotherhood’s public speeches. Although it is beyond the scope of this text it would, nevertheless, be interesting to probe the current change in political rhetoric and see whether it’s the expression of a fundamental revision of ideology or a mere electoral strategy.

Given the diverging historical evolution of Turkey and Egypt in the twentieth century, it is hard to imagine a replication of the Turkish model in Egypt. There is no historical equivalent of Kemal Attaturk, much less a unified officer class committed to imposing a secular republican order in Egypt. Moreover, the modernizing trends of Nasserite pan-Arabism fell short of the westernizing secularism of Kemal Attaturk. Notwithstanding these obvious differences, the countries also have important points in common. They both were open to Western influences at critical historical junctures. They have, albeit to varying degrees, sizable secular urban elites with more conservative segments among the urban masses, in particular in their rural hinterlands.

Another feature that Egypt shares with Turkey is the preponderance of the role of the army in politics. Given its position at the locus of power, can the Egyptian Army play a constructive role in the transition to democracy or will it be compelled to slowly retrieve from the political scene as in Turkey? Can the emergence of the MB be a counter-balance to the influence of the army as a powerful institution? Although, it is difficult to predict a particular outcome at this juncture, one possibility that may be envisaged is for the army to follow a rational interest-based choice of accommodating itself with the conquest of power by the MB provided its special interests (economic in particular) are preserved and its autonomous status respected.

Assuredly, political Islam is today an inescapable reality. It is all the more solid that it is a modern ideological current deeply rooted in the indigenous culture and identity of the overwhelming majority of Middle Easterners. It is, also, a reflection of evolving local mores and traditions and a naturally growing endogenous political trend. It will be completely unrealistic to simply ignore its importance or overlook its genesis.

However, one can only hope it does not metamorphose into another form of authoritarian autocracy. In order to preclude that grim possibility it is important that all political forces vying for change unite their efforts for the sake of a common purpose, namely, an institutional change in which the rules of the game are clearly defined and collectively accepted by the various contenders for power. Before the institutional process of change is initiated a general consensus is therefore required. That is the best constitutional guarantee against the vagaries of personal ambition and natural temptations of partisan hegemony.

Arabs not only want change but a change for the better, i.e., the institution of a sound system of governance based on the democratic principles of power rotation, personal accountability and transparency in the administration of public institutions and state assets. If the rules of the game are in advance clearly defined and agreed upon within the framework of a general and free consensus, it does NOT matter so much who really gets elected. In the end what will uphold the system are the institutional mechanisms at core of its foundations not the political color of its cyclical popular expression.

In one of his campaign trails the sophisticated Nehru once tried to enlighten some illiterate Indian villagers in rural India by pedagogically quizzing them on the meaning of democracy. Thus he asked: “you know what democracy really means?”, then perceptively responded:” It simply means that if you don’t like my job performance you can fire whenever you want". Therein lies the whole question of democracy!

- Mohamed El Mokhtar Sidi Haiba is a political analyst. He contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.

In Mauritania, Moroccan journalist expelled

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:20:29 GMT

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Mauritanian authorities' Wednesday decision to expel a Moroccan journalist from the country.

Online

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:18:00 GMT

PRIME Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has invited landowners to deposit their land with the government Land Bank for the benefit of the community.

Dangerous Liaisons: Polisario and Al Qaeda

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:29:54 GMT

An operation conducted by the Mauritanian police last Nov. 6 in Nouadhibou, led to the arrest of two members of the Polisario responsible for the kidnapping of three persons, although no information was available about the fate of the captives.

Mauritania: Govt in Oil Exploration Deal With Total

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:33:56 GMT

Mauritania has signed an agreement with French oil group Total to explore for oil at sea and to extract any oil discovered, the official Mauritanian information agency reported on Monday.

Mauritania announces oil exploration boost with Total

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:31 GMT

Mauritania has signed an agreement with French oil group Total to explore for oil at sea and to extract any oil discovered, the official Mauritanian information agency reported on...

UN Mission On Impact of Country's Crisis On Sahel Region Heads to Mauritania

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:08:14 GMT

A United Nations mission to assess the impact of the recent turmoil in Libya on the Sahel region is heading to Mauritania for talks with top officials in the West African nation, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson announced today.

Fresh fishing fiasco means more bad news for EU

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:03:12 GMT

There is more trouble brewing for the EU's fishing industry after the collapse of talks on an agreement with Mauritania. According to a…

Nigeria: NPA Intercepts Vessel With Rotten Frozen Fish

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:59:16 GMT

A chartered vessel, from Mauritania, laden with a consignment of rotten frozen mackerel (fish), which berthed at the Port Harcourt Ports, Rivers State, has been seized by the Management of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). M/V TAISETSU, which arrived the Port on December 9, was about to offload its contents when wharf workers detected an repugnant smell wafting out from one of the vessel's hatch.

NPA Seizes Vessel With Spoilt Mackerel From Mauritania

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:58:27 GMT

Management of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) said it has seized a chattered vessel which bathed at the Port Harcourt Ports, Rivers State, from Mauritania, following the discovery of a consignment of frozen mackerel (fish), believed to be unsafe for consumption.

West Africa: West Africa - Millions of People At Risk of Serious Food Crisis Without Early Action, Says Oxfam

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:16:46 GMT

Millions of people in West Africa could be protected from a serious food crisis if preparations are scaled up across West Africa, stated a press release from Oxfam. With early indicators pointing to a likely food crisis in 2012, with people at particularly high risk in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad, now is the time to invest in preventative measures, the agency said.

West Africa: Millions at Risk of Serious Food Crisis Without Early Action

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:29:14 GMT

Millions of people in West Africa could be protected from a serious food crisis if preparations are scaled up across West Africa, Oxfam said today. With early indicators pointing to a likely food crisis in 2012, with people at particularly high risk in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad, now is the time to invest in preventative measures, the agency said.

West Africa: Algeria, Mauritania Pledge to Boost Sahel Security

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:28:04 GMT

Algeria and Mauritania's leaders Tuesday vowed to beef up security in the Sahel region, where Islamist militants are holding a dozen Western hostages.

SAHEL: Act now to avoid another crisis, say aid agencies

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

DAKAR 14 December 2011 (IRIN) - Aid agencies are warning donors to act now to avert another drought-related food crisis in the Sahel that could mean over 11 million people sink into further food insecurity, poverty or malnutrition.

Fonadh/OSJI/IHRDA Colloquium On Transitional Justice and Reconciliation

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:49:54 GMT

Over 70 participants have today come together in Nouakchott to discuss transitional justice and reconciliation in Mauritania.

Mauritanian Leader Congratulates President Jammeh

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:34:46 GMT

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the president of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania has sent a letter to the Gambian leader, His Excellency, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, congratulating him on his recent election victory.

Africa: Don't Pay Ransom for Qaeda Hostages, Says Mauritania

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:50:38 GMT

Mauritania on Sunday urged that no ransom be paid for European hostages held in the Sahel region by Al-Qaeda's North African wing, at a meeting of European and African defence ministers.

'Al-Qaeda splinter group' claims kidnap of Westerners

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:18:03 GMT

BAMAKO: A group identifying itself as an offshoot of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb said Saturday it was holding three Westerners kidnapped from a refugee camp in Algeria in October.

Islamists behind kidnapping of Europeans

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:15:58 GMT

The radical Islamist Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings of European citizens in Mali last month, local media reported on Friday.

Report: Al-Qaida denies Sahara kidnappings

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:56:52 GMT

A private Mauritanian publication has published a statement from al-Qaida in North Africa denying it was involved in the kidnapping of 3 European aid workers in southern Algeria.

Mauritania: Nation Is Under Threat and in Need of Support

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:18:38 GMT

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania in the drought-ravaged Sahalian was severely threatened by climate change -- ever day.

British Hostage Threatened With Execution in Video

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:44:24 GMT

Masked gunmen threaten to execute a British hostage kidnapped in Nigeria if their demands are not met, in a video received by a Mauritanian news agency and seen by AFP.

Mauritania: Mauritania Arrests Two Suspected of Kidnapping Europeans

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:33:57 GMT

Mauritanian police said Monday they had arrested two Western Saharan men suspected of kidnapping an Italian and two Spanish aid workers in Algeria in October.

Two arrested for Algeria kidnapping

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:23:44 GMT

A police commissioner told The Associated Press that two men have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of three Europeans from a refugee camp in Algeria in October.

Mauritania race protest

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:28:23 GMT

Nouakchott - Mauritanian police used tear gas on Monday to disperse hundreds of blacks protesting against a population census they deem racist, wounding several, a spokesperson for the group said.

Parliamentary sketch: Mr Hague had the superior air of the Man from Del Monte

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:13:43 GMT

Perorating in yesterday's debate about north Africa and the Middle East, Foreign Secretary William Hague said that his role - and that, by Jove, of Her Britannic Majesty's Government - was 'showing leadership' to the world.

Kim Yong Nam Greets President of Mauritania

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:40:22 GMT

Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Sunday sent a message of greeting to Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, president of Islamic Republic of Mauritania, on its 51st independence day.

Azerbaijani President offers greetings to Albanian and Mauritanian counterparts

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:09:10 GMT

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of congratulation to Albanian counterpart Bamir Topi on the country`s public holiday - the Flag Day.