The UN Security Council on Tuesday condemned the recent military coup in Mauritania and demanded the immediate release of ousted Mauritanian president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.
The council adopted a non-binding statement that “condemns the Mauritanian military’s overthrow of the democratically elected government of Mauritania” on August 6, and demands the president’s immediate release and the immediate “restoration of the legitimate, constitutional, democratic institutions.”
Abdallahi, the west African country’s first democratically elected president, was ousted by a junta led by General Abdel Aziz, who vowed this week to hold elections and fight corruption and terrorism.
ELECTIONS
In a speech broadcast on radio and television on Sunday, the general committed himself to “organizing free and transparent presidential elections as soon as possible.”
He also set up a State Council of 11 military officials and appointed a new prime minister, Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, to form a transitional government.
In its statement, the 15-member Security Council said it “condemns the actions of the State Council, in particular its move to seize the powers of the presidency.”
It added that it recognized the role played by the African Union, which suspended Mauritania after the coup, and said it would continue to monitor developments.
On the day of the takeover, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he “deeply regretted” the coup and called for the immediate restoration of the constitutional order there.
The UN statement came as the president of Mauritania’s National Assembly, Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, an opponent of the junta, declared the extraordinary assembly session called for yesterday morning illegal, as the legitimate president of the country was being held under arrest.
RESPONSE
In response to the UN council’s statement, Mauritanian Ambassador Abderrahim Ould Hadrami struck a defiant note, arguing Abdallahi “became the hostage of a political entourage that diverted him from his supreme mission.”
The “corrective change” of Aug. 6 was broadly supported by Mauritania’s parliament, mayors and people, Hadrami said.
The coup has been condemned by the African Union, the EU, the US and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Mauritania is a largely desert country of 3 million people twice the size of former colonial ruler France and is rich in iron ore, copper and gold.
‘NOT A COUP’
The action “cannot be described as a coup d’etat since all the institutions of the republic are working normally and basic freedoms are preserved,” Hadrami said, adding the country “has not turned its back on democracy.”
Hadrami called on the Security Council to acquaint itself better with the situation in Mauritania to understand why the “corrective change” had taken place.
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