Reprt f the Natinal Demcratic Institute Pre-Electin Assessment Delegatin 2011 Mauritanian Legislative and Municipal Electins August 31, 2011 Frm July 24-27, the Natinal Demcratic Institute (NDI) rganized a pre-electin assessment missin t bserve preparatins fr the Octber 16, 2011 legislative and municipal electins in Mauritania. The delegatin met with plitical party leaders, members f parliament, civil sciety activists, representatives f the internatinal cmmunity, jurnalists, and Mauritanians interested in the electral prcess. The members f the delegatin included Francesca Binda, NDI s senir directr fr the West Bank and Gaza and frmer electins fficial frm the Organizatin fr Security and Cperatin in Eurpe (OSCE); Badié Hima, frmer leader f the Nigerien Assciatin fr Human Rights and current NDI resident directr fr Tg; Megan Dherty, NDI prgram fficer fr the Middle East and Nrth Africa (MENA); and Jacques Veilleux, frmer member f the Natinal Assembly f Quebec and current NDI resident directr fr Mauritania. The purpses f the delegatin were t express the supprt f the internatinal cmmunity fr the cntinued strengthening f demcratic prcesses in Mauritania; assess the evlving plitical envirnment surrunding the upcming electins, as well as the state f electral preparatins; and ffer accurate and impartial bservatins and recmmendatins. The delegatin s wrk was based n the Declaratin f Principles fr Internatinal Electin Observatin, launched at the United Natins in 2005 and endrsed by NDI and 36 ther internatinal and intergvernmental rganizatins. The delegatin benefited frm the hspitality and frankness f everyne with whm it met. Mauritanians cntinue t demnstrate a determined interest in cntinued demcratic develpment. Executive Summary Mauritania s upcming legislative and municipal electins ffer an imprtant pprtunity t strengthen the cuntry s fragile plitical institutins. The pre-electin landscape is marked by several psitive factrs, including relatively free media, a genuine desire n the part f majrity and ppsitin parties t develp the fundatin fr a natinal dialgue n plitical rights and effrts by civil sciety rganizatins t engage in the unflding plitical prcess. Hwever, plitical activists are lsing cnfidence in the prcess, and are especially cncerned that the Ministry f the Interir (MOI) lacks the technical capacity t prepare fr legislative and municipal plls and the independence t ensure a credible and fair prcess. The gvernment disbanded the Natinal Independent Electin Cmmissin (CENI) in 2009, leaving the MOI slely respnsible fr cnducting the electins. It als remains unclear whether dmestic r internatinal electin bservatin will be welcmed, as the MOI did nt respnd t NDI s requests fr meetings. 1
As all plitical parties are preccupied with the upcming Natinal Dialgue (the dialgue), there are few visible effrts by parties t differentiate themselves thrugh issue-based platfrms. In additin, the lack f clarity regarding the legal framewrk is preventing parties frm preparing their campaigns and civic grups frm preparing ptential mnitring and vter educatin effrts. Psitive effrts, such as the initiative by the MOI t encurage refugees, frmer slaves and ther marginalized grups t add their names t the electral lists are ffset by a census prcess that is perceived as discriminatry by the African-Mauritanian ppulatin. While the census is nt expressly related t updating the vter registry, there is widespread cnfusin ver hw the prcesses relate t ne anther. As the MOI is respnsible bth fr cnducting the census and updating the vter registry, a census prcess perceived as flawed culd ultimately undermine the credibility f the electral lists. It als remains t be seen whether the MOI will be able t meet its August 31 deadline fr finalizing the vter rlls; the ministry itself estimated in late May that apprximately 600,000 Mauritanians (18 percent f the cuntry s 3.28 millin inhabitants) are unregistered. Given Mauritania s histry f instability and the military cups in 2005 and 2008, the delegatin was cncerned by the widespread disregard fr cnstitutinal deadlines. Accrding t the Mauritanian cnstitutin, the current legislative mandate expires in Octber. While the delegatin was encuraged by parties desire fr cnsensus n an electral timeline, there was a near ttal lack f cncern regarding the cnstitutinal implicatin f delaying the electins. While electins are nt the sle barmeter f demcracy, respect fr cnstitutinally mandated electin timetables in a cuntry with such a vlatile plitical histry culd imprve public cnfidence and lead t greater plitical stability. Even as the ppsitin parties and president cntinue t negtiate ver cnditins fr the dialgue, the MOI declared that the electins will take place n Octber 16. With an increasing number f issues wrapped up in the pending dialgue, the delegatin was cncerned that prtracted negtiatins culd becme an excuse t delay electins while aviding measures t guarantee a transparent, participatry prcess agreeable t all sides. The nn-electral issues n the table fr the dialgue are imprtant and warrant careful cnsideratin, but participants shuld cnsider the urgency f the electral timeline in the cntext f the cnstitutin, and priritize establishing agreement n cnditins fr credible electins. If pliticians intend t delay the electins, they need t develp a radmap that establishes firm cmmitments, deadlines and cnsequences. Key Recmmendatins t the Mauritanian Gvernment: Establish a permanent independent electins management bdy with decisinmaking pwers fr the rganizatin f all electins. Lift the prhibitin n peaceful demnstratins. Irrespective f the pending dialgue, immediately wrk with ppsitin and majrity parties and civil sciety representatives t determine an acceptable electral timeline and framewrk, with measurable benchmarks t ensure a transparent and participatry prcess. 2
Prvide plitical parties and nngvernmental rganizatins with full access t bserve every aspect f the electral prcess including vter registratin, the campaign perid, ballting, tabulatin and publicatin f final results. Take the legal and technical steps necessary t facilitate electin bservatin by impartial Mauritanian rganizatins t mnitr and reprt freely n all aspects f the electin and plitical prcesses. Accept and accredit bservers frm credible internatinal rganizatins t bserve the electins. The risk f a plitical r cnstitutinal crisis in the cming mnths is very real. Mauritanians are increasingly taking t the streets t express their frustratins with the prtracted negtiatins fr the dialgue and the lack f cncern being paid t the ecnmic hardships and scial tensins that affect their daily lives. In this climate f uncertainty, Mauritanian plitical parties have the pprtunity t wrk tgether tward agreement n the cnditins necessary fr credible electins, while als demnstrating their ability t mve beynd plitical psturing s that citizens can make their chices thrugh the ballt bx. Mrever, the upcming electins will prvide parties with a much greater pprtunity t present their prgrams and plans fr gvernance t the public than wuld the mre limited dialgue with the president, a dialgue that fr nw will exclude the participatin f civil sciety and the brader ppulatin. Recent Plitical Cntext On June 1, 2011 the MOI annunced a revisin f the natinal vter registry in anticipatin f cnstitutinally-mandated legislative and municipal electins t be held n Octber 1. The fllwing week, President Mhamed Ould Abdel Aziz cnfirmed the date in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP), claiming the mandate f a member f parliament is five years; that is t say that Octber 1, there must be electins, perid. There will be n legal vacuum. The CENI, the multipartisan bdy charged with electral preparatins, was disbanded after the 2009 presidential electins. Althugh the Main Plitical Parties Crdinatin f the Demcratic Oppsitin Party Name (COD) the main Calitin f Unin fr the Republic (UPR) calitin f ppsitin the Majrity Republican Party fr Demcracy and Renewal parties has demanded (CPM) (PRDR) the recnstitutin f the Natinal Pact fr Demcracy and Develpment CENI, the gvernment (ADIL) has mandated the MOI with all electral preparatins. The MOI is updating the 2009 electral lists and registering the hundreds f thusands f yung Mauritanians wh Crdinatin f the Demcratic Oppsitin (COD) Rally f Demcratic Frces (RFD) Unin f Frces f Prgress (UFP) Demcratic Renewal (RD) Natinal Rally fr Refrm and Develpment (Tewassul) Mauritanian Party fr Unity and Change (HATEM) Ppular Prgressive Appliance (APP) El Wiam 3
reached vting age ver the past tw years and ther citizens wh were nt included in the 2009 vter rlls, including many undcumented refugees wh had returned frm neighbring Senegal. The ppsitin has criticized the unilateral effrts t revise the vter registry and is suspicius f the paque prvisins fr verificatin and appeal. Since its launch in early June, the Mauritanian gvernment s attempts t cnduct a census have been increasingly decried as discriminatry by the African-Mauritanian ppulatin. There have been reprts f fficials targeting African-Mauritanians in nrthern cmmunities with humiliating questins t verify their ethnic backgrunds, including demanding that African- Mauritanians prve they are nt slaves and requiring speakers f Sninke and ther African- Mauritanian dialects recite the Qur an and speak Arabic t prve that they are citizens. A grup f yung African-Mauritanians recently used Facebk t launch an initiative, tuche pas à ma natinalité [ Dn t tuch my citizenship ] and are nw rganizing sit-ins and demnstratins acrss the cuntry. On July 11, the ppsitin Unin f the Frces f Prgress (UFP) called the census dubtful in its gals, dangerus fr natinal unity and chatic in Plitical Timeline its prcedures and Nvember 1960: Mauritania becmes independent frm France requested an audit f the July 1978: Pst-independence president, Mktar Daddah, census ffice. In respnse t depsed in a military cup citizen cmplaints, the MOI December 1984: Maauya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya assumes rganized a televisin pwer in a military cup prgram t share infrmatin n the prcess and cmbat allegatins f imprpriety. In the last week January 1992: Taya wins the presidency in an electin cnsidered fraudulent by ppsitin grups and external bservers f July, Ibrahima Sarr, August 2005: Military Cuncil fr Justice and Demcracy president f the (CMJD) depses Taya and annunces plan fr demcratic predminantly African- transitin Mauritanian Alliance fr June 2006: A new cnstitutin is apprved by referendum Justice and Demcracy/Mvement fr Renewal (AJD/MR), made public recmmendatins t imprve the prcess, including strnger recruitment prtcls fr census wrkers and public infrmatin campaigns in all f Mauritania s main languages. Nvember - December 2006: RFD wins the mst seats in parliamentary electins March 2007: Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi wins presidency in Mauritania s first demcratic presidential cntest August 2008: President Abdallahi is depsed in a military cup by General Mhamed Ould Abdel Aziz June 2009: Aziz and ppsitin grups sign Dakar Accrds t end plitical stalemate and agree n cnditins fr electins July 2009: General Aziz wins presidential electins cntested by ppsitin grups Sme parties are threatening t byctt rather than participate in a prcess they say is designed t ensure a victry fr the ruling Unin fr the 4
Republic (UPR). In late June, ppsitin parties presented President Aziz with a platfrm utlining their demand fr an fficial dialgue n a range f plitical issues, including acceptable standards fr electins. The COD platfrm requested direct negtiatins with the president, t reach an fficial agreement and the establishment f a jint majrity-ppsitin mnitring cmmittee t versee the agreement s implementatin. The platfrm als stipulated that the dialgue wuld take place in the capital Nuakchtt, but that parties wuld have the right t appeal fr internatinal mediatin in the case f a stalemate. After hsting meetings with the presidential majrity, President Aziz rejected three majr aspects f the COD s platfrm: the adptin f the 2009 Dakar Accrds 1 as the basis fr the talks, establishment f the jint mnitring cmmissin and ptential use f internatinal mediatin. The Dakar Accrds pse a quandary. Sme ppsitin parties, such as the Rally f Demcratic Frces (RFD), insist that the dialgue must be held within the cntext f the agreement that ended the stalemate preceding the 2009 presidential electins. The president, hwever, claims that the Dakar Accrds pertained t the 2009 electins and are n lnger applicable. Oppsitin grups claim that the gvernment is in vilatin f the Accrds and that it wuld be difficult t have cnfidence in any new agreement, when it is clear that the president has little regard fr the previus ne. Respnding t the COD platfrm, the president issued his wn call fr dialgue t strengthen demcracy, natinal unity and civil liberties. The president s statement claimed he was willing t discuss seriusly and withut any tab issues tpics including the independence f the judiciary, the rle f the ppsitin, electral preparatins and media access. Ntably, the president s list f tpics excluded several key ppsitin cncerns, including the rle f the Mauritanian military in civilian affairs. On July 27, ne mnth after submitting its initial radmap fr dialgue, the COD frmally presented the president with a slightly amended platfrm. In the revised radmap, the Dakar Accrds are referred t as the agreement initiated in Dakar and signed in Nuakchtt and references t internatinal mediatin have been remved. The resubmitted COD platfrm utlines pririty themes, including natinal unity, civil liberties, the prfessinalizatin and depliticizatin f public institutins, judicial independence, gd gvernance, the rle f the army, the rle f the press, and the electral cde and timeline. Bth the COD platfrm and the president s respnse state that practical measures will be taken fr the implementatin f the results f the dialgue, but there is n infrmatin n hw that wuld wrk. One day after receiving the amended COD platfrm, the gvernment annunced that legislative and municipal electins wuld be held n Octber 16 instead f the riginally stated date f Octber 1. This annuncement surprised ppsitin parties wh had been expecting t negtiate 1 Fllwing the August 2008 cup d etat in which General Aziz verthrew demcratically elected President Sidi Mhamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi, Mauritanian plitical actrs cnvened in Dakar, Senegal under the auspices f the internatinal cmmunity t negtiate an end t the plitical impasse. The Accrds set the stage fr participatry electins by creating a bipartisan CENI and refrming the electral cde. The agreement als created a mechanism fr dialgue between the ppsitin and the president. Since June 2010, the COD has criticized the president fr failing t use this mechanism. 5
a new electral calendar during the dialgue. The Mauritanian plitical landscape has been dminated by talk f dialgue and it is unclear hw the gvernment s annuncement will impact planning fr talks between the ppsitin parties and the president. While the ppsitin and the presidency cndemn each ther in the press, the Mauritanian public is increasingly weary with plitical maneuvering. In additin t the ppular marches against the census, there has been a recent rise in labr strikes and sit-ins thrughut the cuntry. Plitical parties are nt making effrts t campaign r articulate platfrms n any f the ecnmic cncerns inflatin, saring fd prices, and unemplyment that citizens face in their every day lives. I. Findings Electral Administratin: The July 28 annuncement mandates that legislative and municipal electins will be held in tw runds n Octber 16 and 30. Given the recent decree that the senatrial electins 2 will be held in tw runds n September 25 and Octber 2, this annuncement gave the MOI just ver tw mnths t rganize fur runds f electins. NDI s delegatin was unable t btain full infrmatin n the prgress f electral preparatins, as representatives frm the MOI declined t meet r prvide updates. The United Natins Develpment Prgramme (UNDP) is prviding limited supprt t the MOI, but the UNDP cnsultant within the ministry culd nt cnfirm whether preparatins, including the designatin f plling statins and recruitment and training f pll wrkers, were taking place. In its meetings with plitical and civil sciety leaders, NDI s delegatin encuntered a widespread lack f cnfidence in the MOI, which is perceived as paque and unilateral in its actins. Steps need t be taken by the MOI t increase the transparency f electral preparatins and t cmmunicate its effrts t a brad Mauritanian audience. Natinal Independent Electin Cmmissin (CENI) Althugh the CENI played a key rle in verseeing electins in Mauritania in 2006, 2007 and 2009, it has nt been recnstituted since its disslutin after the last presidential electin. NDI s internatinal bservatin delegatin fr the secnd rund f the 2007 presidential electins fund that the decree establishing the CENI cntained prvisins fr its immediate disslutin after the electins a serius flaw fr the lnger term sustainability f a fair and transparent electral prcess. Nearly all Mauritanians with whm the delegatin met expressed the need fr an independent electin cmmissin t versee electin preparatins and reassure the public f the impartiality f the administratin f the electins prcess. While mst pliticians insist that the CENI be frmed by cnsensus, it wuld be a cumbersme and ptentially impssible undertaking t have individual members vetted by all majr plitical actrs, r even a majrity f Mauritania s 75 plitical parties. An alternate apprach wuld be fr the majr actrs t agree n parameters fr the CENI s frmatin and achieve cnsensus n a 2 Indirect cntests fr ne third f the legislature s upper huse were indefinitely pstpned frm April. 6
mechanism fr selecting members that is transparent and allws bth the majrity and ppsitin parties and civil sciety t play a rle. Cnstitutinal Framewrk Accrding t the Mauritanian cnstitutin, the parliament s mandate will expire in Octber. Mst pliticians expressed a belief that the electins wuld be delayed int 2012, leaving as an pen questin respnsibility fr lawmaking during what wuld be an extra-cnstitutinal perid. In the case f any delay, it is unclear whether there wuld be attempts t extend the current parliament s mandate in cntraventin f the cnstitutin r wh wuld assume respnsibility fr lawmaking. Given the lngstanding dminance f the cuntry s executive branch and a histrically pliticized military, the delegatin fund the lack f attentin t the pending legislative vacuum trubling. Many claimed that the cnstitutinal questin culd be slved if cnsensus was reached during the dialgue. A likely apprach nw under review is t peg the cnstitutinal five-year mandate with the first sitting f the Natinal Assembly in May 2007, rather than the date f the last electin. Thrugh this interpretatin, electins culd be held by May 27, 2012 and still be cnsistent with the cnstitutin. Electral Law Accrding t fficial circles, if there is n dialgue, the electins will be held accrding t the 2009 electral cde. Hwever, if the dialgue des take place, the dr will be pen fr amendment by cnsensus. Several plitical leaders spke abut the pssibility f an extrardinary sessin f the Natinal Assembly in mid-august r mid-september t frmally vte n revisins agreed t during the dialgue. Mauritanian party and civic representatives have a number f cncerns that will need t be addressed in any legal refrm prcess, including independent candidates, prprtinality, prvisins t prmte greater participatin f wmen, a transparent and accessible appeals prcess and whether t include measures against plitical nmadism (the cmmn phenmenn f switching parties). Shuld it take place, the electral law revisin represents an pprtunity fr the gvernment t engage ppsitin parties and civil sciety in the prcess and t build public cnfidence in the amended cde. Given that electins are scheduled fr Octber 16, lack f public infrmatin is a serius cncern. There has been n cmmunicatin frm the MOI regarding whether citizen grups will be allwed t mnitr the plls. This limits their ability t rganize dmestic mnitring effrts and hurts the credibility f the verall prcess. Vter Registry The MOI is attempting t update the electral lists used in 2009. It has taken steps t infrm citizens f the need t register, and the delegatin was particularly encuraged t hear f the ministry s effrts t reach ut t refugee and traditinally marginalized ppulatins in the cuntry s interir. The UNDP s technical assistance t the MOI includes cnstructin f a new data center t huse the electral list. The delegatin hped the ministry wuld als take advantage f the pprtunity t build cnfidence in electral preparatins by prviding 7
ppsitin parties and civic grups with infrmatin n the revisin prcess and access t the revised vter lists. T the delegatin s knwledge, there are currently n citizen grups mnitring the revisin r infrming citizens f the prcess and requirements. Internatinal Observatin It is unclear whether credible internatinal rganizatins will be allwed t bserve the electins. Internatinal electin bservatin, when dne in accrdance with accepted principles fr impartial assessments, enhances the integrity f electin prcesses by encuraging best electral practices and deterring miscnduct, as well as by identifying prblems and irregularities that can lead t effective redress. NDI and ther rganizatins have rganized internatinal delegatins t Mauritania s neighbrs including Algeria, Côte d Ivire, Mali, Mrcc, Senegal and Sierra Lene. Mauritania welcmed bservers in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Plitical Envirnment fr Hlding Electins Dialgue and Cnsensus-Building While the delegatin was encuraged by the interest f bth the majrity and ppsitin parties in hlding a dialgue, the delegatin was cncerned by the increasing number f issues that are expected t be reslved by the prcess. Mst plitical actrs agree that the dialgue will take place, but few culd describe hw they felt the cnsensus prcess shuld wrk. As mre and mre issues get lumped int the dialgue prcess, the delegatin is cncerned that this culd adversely impact the electral envirnment. During a rundtable with Mauritanian media, ne jurnalist cmmented that the citizens are the victims f this debate. Mrever, the dialgue is slated t take place between negtiatrs representing ppsitin parties and the presidency, with n express rle fr majrity parties r civil sciety. Accrding t the radmap submitted by the ppsitin, the dialgue shuld address natinal unity, prfessinalizatin f the administratin, the rle f the military in civilian affairs, independence f the judiciary, electral cde and timeline, media access and the frmal rle f the ppsitin. It is unrealistic t expect that all f these issues particularly the larger issues related t cnfidence in plitical prcesses culd be slved vernight, especially when the prcedures fr decisinmaking and achieving cnsensus are unclear. While discussin f these issues is imprtant, the delegatin believes that Mauritanians wuld benefit mre frm immediate attentin t establishing cnditins fr credible electins. Oppsitin parties claim that they are ready fr dialgue, but that they have little cnfidence in the sincerity f the president. Several ppsitin members referred t the need fr the president and the majrity parties t make cncessins t prve their gd faith. The delegatin believes that the ppsitin shuld demnstrate its gd faith as well. One f the repeated demands f the ppsitin was remval f the prhibitin n public demnstratins. A small labr strike tk place in Nuakchtt during the delegatin s visit with ne f the ppsitin representatives. When the delegatin asked whether the representative cnsidered the gvernment s willingness t allw the strike t prceed as a sign f gd faith, the representative did nt give a clear answer. 8
Plitical Parties The delegatin fund that with the exceptin f the UPR and Tewassul, n parties were actively munting electral campaigns, making effrts t articulate platfrms, r reaching ut t citizens n vter issues. Mst party activities appeared t be taking place within the cntext f preparing fr r reacting t the latest events related t the dialgue. It is clear that plitical parties face significant rganizatinal challenges and wuld benefit frm training and technical supprt. In the past weeks, several parties have raised the threat f a byctt if electin preparatins are seen as unfairly benefiting the ruling UPR. The delegatin was encuraged t hear frm UPR representatives n their cmmitment t aviding an ppsitin byctt. Averting a byctt wuld send a pwerful, psitive signal t vters that the gvernment is cmmitted t a fair and pen prcess. The delegatin bserved that many parties appeared cntent t cmplain abut the current plitical stalemate, rather than present clear alternatives r ideas t mve the cuntry frward. Oppsitin parties must be willing t take stands beynd denuncing the gvernment. Oppsitin parties identified several measures the gvernment culd take in the shrt term t build cnfidence in electral preparatins, including prviding parties access t the revised electral lists and creating an impartial, cmpetent CENI. Rle f Civil Sciety The delegatin was encuraged by the array f civic rganizatins interested in participating in the dialgue and electral prcesses. The Frum f Natinal Human Rights Organizatins (FONADH), the African Meeting fr the Defense f Human Rights (RADDOH), and the Civil Sciety Platfrm are currently meeting with party representatives t build supprt fr greater civil sciety invlvement. While mst civic rganizatins in Mauritania have limited resurces, there are a number f internatinal rganizatins, including NDI, that are pised t assist civic grups with the design and cnduct f campaigns t infrm vters and supprt fr electral prcess mnitring. The public utcry ver the census has led sme grups t rganize advcacy campaigns. Technical supprt and training culd empwer these and ther civic grups t mnitr plitical prcesses, including the census and vter registry update, drawing attentin t needed imprvements and building public cnfidence. These effrts culd extend t mnitring the electins themselves. While Mauritanians have limited experiences munting public mnitring campaigns, there are several grups with natinal reach wh have expressed interest in partnering with NDI n dmestic bservatin effrts. Dmestic electin bservers can prvide invaluable supprt t an electin prcess. Hwever, there has been n indicatin frm the gvernment n whether bservers will be encuraged. The Mauritanian gvernment shuld act swiftly t clarify the legal parameters fr bservatin. 9
Rle f Media The Mauritanian media is smewhat free, but the sectr faces technical and ther capacity cnstraints. The delegatin heard cmplaints f a lack f equitable access and cverage f plitical party activities by public and private media. These cncerns were eched in discussins with representatives f Al-Jazeera s Mauritanian bureau, which nted the challenge f trying t prvide equal cverage fr the cuntry s 75 plitical parties. The delegatin met with the president and secretary general f the High Authrity fr the Press and Bradcasting (HAPA) and was encuraged by the HAPA s stated cmmitment t equitable media access t plitical parties. The HAPA perates a media mnitring department which prvides qualitative and quantitative reprts n cverage. Althugh HAPA representatives claimed that mnitring infrmatin was publicly accessible n their website, several jurnalists cmplained that they had n access t HAPA reprts. Rle f Wmen As a result f a successful quta campaign and civil sciety effrts t galvanize and train wmen candidates, wmen wn 18 percent f seats in the Natinal Assembly and 34 percent f municipal cuncil seats in 2006. Despite these encuraging gains, wmen still face a number f cnstraints, particularly in rural and tribal cmmunities in the interir. Wmen s civic grups and wmen within parties are eager fr pprtunities t prmte wmen s representatin and prepare wmen candidates t run mre effective and cmpetitive campaigns. It is unclear whether the 20 percent quta fr which a calitin f wmen successfully advcated in 2006 will be retained fr the legislative and municipal electins. Sme plitical actrs are currently discussing a ptential natinal list apprach t guarantee an allcatin f seats fr wmen. Cncurrently NDI, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internatinale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Spanish Cperatin are prviding technical assistance and supprt t a multipartisan, crss-sectral wmen s calitin cmprising many activists frm the 2006 quta campaign t push fr an increase f the quta t 33 percent. Vter Educatin The vter educatin prcess has nt yet begun in earnest, and it is t early t evaluate whether r nt it will be effective. It is essential that vters are prvided with full and clear guidance n where, when and hw t vte. During the missin, the delegatin fund a dearth f electral infrmatin, beynd speculatin ver a ptential delay. If the gvernment intends t hld t the Octber 16 date, then citizens need t be infrmed as sn as pssible f the prper prcedures. Given declining public cnfidence in the vter registratin prcess, it will be imprtant t cmplement vter infrmatin with brader effrts t demnstrate transparency in the electin preparatins. Several peple expressed cncern abut the challenge f reaching illiterate ppulatins (just under half f Mauritania s adult ppulatin is illiterate), particularly within the cuntry s vast rural interir. The delegatin suggested the pssibility f using radis, which are widely available in Mauritania, t cnduct civic educatin and vter infrmatin campaigns. 10
II. Recmmendatins In light f its findings, the delegatin respectfully ffers the fllwing recmmendatins: Electral Administratin It is imprtant that electin authrities demnstrate their cmmitment t impartiality t electral cntestants and the public. Plitical parties and nngvernmental rganizatins shuld have full access t bserve every aspect f the electral prcess including registratin, the campaign perid, ballting, tabulatin and publicatin f final results. In rder t build public cnfidence in its peratins, the MOI shuld establish a regular, frmal mechanism fr cnsultatin and infrmatin-sharing with plitical parties and civil sciety rganizatins. Greater cmmunicatin and engagement with all sectrs f sciety wuld allw the MOI t hear the public s cncerns firsthand, and wuld, in turn, allay sme misgivings. CENI An independent and respected CENI shuld be established n a permanent basis, with respnsibility fr the rganizatin f all electins. While there are many mdels available fr the design f the CENI, it shuld be frmed in cnsultatin with civil sciety and ppsitin and majrity parties. The CENI must be given the human and financial resurces t functin in a manner that inspires cnfidence amng Mauritanians. Steps shuld als be taken t delineate the lines f cmmunicatin and cllabratin between the CENI and the MOI in rder t strengthen and guarantee the CENI s independence. A training plan shuld be designed fr plling fficials in the perid leading up t the electin s that all staff are well-versed in the crrect prcedures. This will als increase public cnfidence in the prcess. Electral Envirnment T imprve the verall electral envirnment and enhance citizen cnfidence in plitical prcesses and institutins, the gvernment shuld lift the prhibitin n peaceful demnstratins. The right t peaceful assembly shuld be guaranteed thrugh legal safeguards and reinfrced by gvernment prnuncements. Dialgue n Electral Issues The gvernment shuld use the dialgue as an pprtunity t engage a representative grup f plitical and civic leaders in discussin n an acceptable electral timeline and framewrk. All participants shuld recgnize the negative message sent by delaying electins, unless accmpanied by measurable benchmarks tward a transparent, participatry prcess. While the nn-electral issues n the table fr the dialgue are imprtant, Mauritanian actrs shuld cnsider the urgency f the electral timeline, as dictated by the cnstitutin, and priritize establishing agreement n cnditins fr credible electins. T enhance cnfidence in the dialgue and demnstrate internatinal supprt fr Mauritania s demcratic develpment, internatinal rganizatins shuld explre 11
the pssibility f cnvening rundtables r infrmal public talks t discuss the current situatin and share experiences and lessns learned frm similar cntexts in ther cuntries. Facilitated in partnership with Mauritanians, these discussins wuld nt interfere with the fficial dialgue, but wuld instead prvide majrity parties and civic grups wh are currently excluded frm the fficial prcess the pprtunity t cnvene and share experiences in a neutral setting. Citizen Mnitring Dmestic bservatin is an imprtant means t engage vters in the demcratic prcess. The gvernment shuld take the legal and technical steps necessary t encurage dmestic bservatin. Accreditatin shuld be prvided t impartial Mauritanian rganizatins t mnitr and reprt freely n all aspects f the electin and plitical prcesses. A netwrk f nnpartisan dmestic bservers shuld be allwed t field as many qualified and trained bservers as they deem necessary. Plitical parties shuld be encuraged t deply well-trained agents t mnitr the electral prcess. These steps will increase citizen participatin and public cnfidence. The internatinal cmmunity, including NDI, shuld supprt dmestic bservatin effrts by prviding technical supprt t civic partners t increase their capacity t cnduct impartial and prfessinal natinwide mnitring f the upcming electins. Such effrts wuld help enhance public cnfidence and deter fraud thrugh the visible and widespread presence f bservers thrughut Mauritania, while prviding mre timely and representative infrmatin abut the cnduct f vting and cunting and the accuracy f the fficial results. Internatinal Observatin Internatinal bservatin enhances transparency and helps build cnfidence in the electins amng the internatinal cmmunity and Mauritanian citizens. T increase public and internatinal cnfidence in the electral prcesses, the Mauritanian gvernment shuld accept and accredit bservers frm credible internatinal rganizatins. Media The HAPA shuld cntinue its effrts t prmte accurate and balanced cverage f plitical parties, ptential candidates and issues f natinal imprtance in the public media. Given jurnalist uncertainties abut the transparency and accessibility f HAPA mnitring reprts, the HAPA shuld take every effrt t share their findings publicly. Jurnalists frm bth state-wned and private media shuld adpt ethical standards, such as a cde f gd cnduct, t ensure accurate and balanced news cverage during the upcming campaign perid. The prfessinal develpment f Mauritanian jurnalists shuld be supprted with training and technical assistance, including wrkshps n internatinal best practices fr cvering electral campaigns and plitical events. Rle f Wmen 12
The lng-term effects f the electral structure n wmen s participatin shuld be clsely mnitred and evaluated t determine the best means t increase wmen s plitical empwerment and representatin in parliament, lcal cuncils and plitical party leadership. Mauritanian wmen shuld be supprted in their effrts t cmpete as candidates and campaigners and t participate in all aspects f the electral and plitical prcess. NDI, UNDP, GIZ, and Spanish Cperatin shuld cntinue t prvide training and technical assistance t Mauritanian wmen during and beynd the electral perid. All plitical parties shuld cnsider taking immediate steps t identify and register female supprters arund the cuntry; recruit and nminate female candidates; place mre wmen in psitins f respnsibility within the party; and develp plicy psitins that appeal t female vters. Plitical Party Supprt NDI r ther rganizatins cmmitted t plitical develpment in Mauritania shuld help plitical parties recruit, train and deply pllwatchers in advance f electins. Mre visible and qualified pllwatchers wuld cntinue enhancing public cnfidence in future electins and imprve the electral rganizatin f plitical parties n plling days. Majrity and ppsitin parties shuld supplement their fcus n negtiating plitical utcmes by strengthening their cntact with and appeal t vters, as well as their grassrts rganizatins. NDI wuld be in a psitin t assist plitical parties undertaking these effrts. Public Participatin The Mauritanian gvernment shuld wrk with plitical parties and civil sciety rganizatins t ensure that as many Mauritanians as pssible are included in plitical and electral prcesses in the cuntry. In view f the shrt time frame prir t the legislative and municipal electins, bradening the base fr participatin in electral and ther plitical prcesses remains essential. In rder t enhance cnfidence in the vter registry, the MOI shuld pen its newly cnstructed data center and prvide plitical parties with cmputerized cpies f vter lists. The lists shuld als be made available fr public review and verificatin by interested parties and ptential vters. Vter Educatin The gvernment, in cllabratin with plitical parties, civil sciety rganizatins and pinin leaders, shuld cnduct extensive civic educatin n the imprtance and need t exercise ne s right t vte and the prcedures fr registering and casting ne s vte. Pst-Electral Supprt Given the current plitical dynamic and the further undermining f the parliament psed by a legislative vacuum, it will be imprtant fr Mauritanian authrities t take all reasnable steps t strengthen the elected parliament in rder t build cnfidence in plitical institutins and the demcratic prcess. It will be equally 13
imprtant fr the newly elected Mauritanian members f parliament t actively exercise the respnsibilities allcated t them by the cnstitutin. 14