AU Welcomes Mauritania’s Political Progress

(PANA)--African Union (AU) chairperson Jean Ping welcomed Mauritania’s return to constitutional order on Saturday, hours after legally elected President Sidi Mohammed Ould Abdullahi formed a transitional government after weeks of discussions to broker the political deadlock in the country.

Ping praised the Mauritanian leader for ‘his high sense of responsibility and general interest’ in handing over power to the people of Mauritania in an effort to end the political deadlock, which has plagued the North African state for almost one year since a military coup ousted the government. ‘The chairperson of the Commission expresses his high appreciation to President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi for his high sense of responsibility and the general interest,’ the AU said in a statement.

Ping pointed out the far-reaching significance of his voluntary decision to hand over his presidential mandate to the Mauritanian people, thus contributing historically to help Mauritania emerge from the crisis. ‘This act opens the way for the organisation on 18 July, 2009 of the first round of early presidential election to enable the Mauritanian people to express their will in full sovereignty,’ he reiterated.

Mauritania was suspended from the AU after the coup, which occurred hours after President Abdallahi attempted to carry out widespread changes to the top military command.

Ping said he took note of the beginning of the transitional period, whose successful conclusion would make it possible to strengthen national reconciliation and deepen the democratic process in Mauritania. He paid tribute to the leaders of the three major political poles and other Mauritanian political and social forces for their invaluable contribution to the conclusion of the framework agreement. ‘The chairperson of the Commission urges the parties concerned to comply with the letter and spirit of this Agreement and to honour the commitments made in good faith and with all necessary diligence,’ he added.

Ping reiterated the determination of the AU to do everything to support the process for the implementation of the framework agreement and to continue to work for the mobilisation of the international community and the coordination of its efforts with a view particularly to organising open, free and fair presidential election at the date fixed. ‘The AU intends to support, beyond the electoral process, the Mauritanian parties in the implementation of the other provisions of the framework agreement and mobilise the international community for that purpose,’ he said.

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