Monday - November 20, 2006

Unbelievable

An African nation that is predominantly Muslim ... which recognizes Israel ... and has banned Islamic political parties ... and is helping in the war on terror ... and has oil to sell. Somebody wake me up. I must be dreaming.

Of course you all know that once the Mad Mullahs in Iran and the WhackJob Wahabbis in Saudi Arabia get wind of this there will be hell to pay. I am going to make it my own personal JIHAD to keep an eye on this tiny little country and if anyone interferes with them I’m gonna scream from the rooftops and raise hell as loudly as I can. Anyone out there want to help?

Mauritania Stages Historic Poll
_{(BBC) - Sunday, 19 November 2006, 19:17 GMT}

Mauritanians have voted in the North African country’s first election since last year’s bloodless coup ended 20 years of authoritarian rule. Turnout was said to be high and long queues formed even before polls opened. Nearly one million people were eligible to vote in the national parliament and municipal council polls.

The military junta which took over after the ousting of President Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya had promised an early return to civilian government.

After casting his vote, the junta leader Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall said he was “satisfied to see Mauritanians embark on the road to democracy and consequently on the way to economic development and political stability.”

The first provisional results are expected late on Monday. This poll will be followed by elections for the senate in January and for the president two months later. The BBC’s North Africa correspondent Richard Hamilton says there seems to be a thirst for democracy.

In June, turnout was also high in a referendum on a new constitution which, among other things, put a two-term limit on any future president. Observers from the European Union were monitoring the elections and so far no problems have been reported.

At least 28 political parties were competing to be represented in the 95-member lower house of parliament, the National Assembly - although only five parties were considered to be front-runners.

But Islamist parties and movements, considered to be among the most popular in the country, have been banned. This has resulted in many Islamist candidates standing as independents.

Because Mauritania is home to a number of different racial groups from Arabs and Berbers to black sub-Saharan tribes, it is predicted that people may have voted along ethnic lines, our correspondent says.

The largely desert country started pumping oil in February this year, so how that could help development was one of the biggest issues facing voters. Mauritania is one of the few Arabic countries to have recognised Israel and has also co-operated in the US “war against terror”.

Posted by The Skipper     on 11/20/2006 at 03:24 PM   
Filed Under: • Africa • RoPMA •  
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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