Current events in Mauritania are marked by the signing of a charter of national understanding between the government, the majority party in power El Insaf and two historic opposition parties, the Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD) and the Union of forces of progress (UFP). This charter aims to open dialogue and define a common roadmap less than a year before the presidential election scheduled for June 2024.
The agreement was signed in the former convention center and covers 18 major themes. It provides for discussions in the form of workshops to address issues related to national unity, political, economic and electoral governance. The objective is to allow each party to remain in its political camp, while working together for the good of the country.
The preparation of this charter took a long time and was delayed by disagreements between the different opposition parties. However, it was urgent to reach an agreement, particularly after the last legislative elections contested by certain parties, including the UFP. For the latter, it is essential to reform the current system, which showed its limits during these elections.
However, some opposition parties, such as the FRUD coalition, regret not having been informed of the final draft of the charter before its adoption. They question the inclusiveness of this approach. Despite this, they remain open to dialogue and take the time to think before deciding whether they will join this movement.
This charter of national understanding represents a significant step forward in the Mauritanian political landscape. By bringing together the different parties around a common roadmap, it opens the way to constructive dialogue and better governance for the country. It remains to be seen whether other opposition parties will also join this movement and thus contribute to strengthening this national understanding. The next major event will be the presidential election of June 2024, which will test the will of the parties involved to put into practice the objectives set in this charter.