News Analysis: Political dialogue between Mauritanian gov't, opposition hit impasse

Attempts by the Mauritanian government to revive dialogue with the opposition seem to have hit impasse, analysts have observed.

In early September, the Mauritanian government had initiated some preliminary consultative meetings for an inclusive national dialogue between the "ruling party and the opposition."

A statement sent to political parties by the government said the dialogue was set to begin on Oct. 12. However, the radical opposition parties have vowed to boycott the dialogue.

The government, which has promised to proceed with the proposed dialogue, has sent emissaries to different provinces in the country to explain to the population the reasons behind the initiative.

The initiative has however been castigated on local media by the radical opposition which is comprised of ten political parties.

According to the opposition, "the dialogue is a political manoeuvre whose only objective is to keep President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in power beyond his second term that will end in two years time."

The Mauritanian president is accused by the opposition of trying to amend the Constitution so that he can remain in power for a third term.

The opposition's accusations have been denied by the president who has said on several occasions that "he does not intend to contest for a third term."

The situation has been termed by a number of political analysts as an "impasse" for which they expect political leaders from both sides to find a solution in order to guarantee a better future for the country that is faced with recurrent economic and structural challenges."

Unfortunately, both camps, the government and opposition, seem to have stuck to their positions and the opposition has vowed not to cede any ground without the involvement of a mediator. Endit