Mauritania ruling coalition names dialogue committee members

Mauritania’s ruling coalition has announced its representatives for the supervisory committee of the upcoming political dialogue. Mohamed Ould Beibaa, leader of the ruling El Insaf Party, has been appointed as the deputy chair of the committee, alongside seven other leaders from coalition parties. The coalition stated that these appointments were made based on objective criteria, including electoral weight and representation in the National Assembly and municipal councils, to ensure equal opportunity and meet established deadlines.

However, the decision has sparked internal friction. The Citizenship and Justice Front, led by Mohamed Jemel Ould Mansour, announced it is freezing its relationship with the ruling coalition. The party protested what it termed “unilateral decisions,” claiming the committee composition was not reached through consultation or consensus and failed to represent all coalition members fairly. The party refused to recognize the selected members as its representatives in the upcoming dialogue.

The move comes amid a broader push for a comprehensive national dialogue, following a consensus document signed by major political parties in July to address national issues. This follows the July 2024 presidential election, in which Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani secured a second five-year term. The election was met with opposition skepticism regarding its integrity and protests that resulted in three deaths. Opposition groups continue to demand political dialogue to reform the electoral system and ensure future transparency.