US embassy cable - 05PARIS5352

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 005352 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ASEC, PINR, MOPS, CASC, MR, FR 
SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA OFFICIAL VIEWS MAURITANIA COUP AS 
"CONSOLIDATED" 
 
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 881 
 
Classified By: Political M/C Josiah Rosenblatt for Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
1.  (C)  GOF MFA DAS-equivalent for West Africa Bruno Foucher 
on August 4 said that France viewed Mauritania's coup as 
"consolidated" (i.e., concluded).  He said that the key 
remaining question involved Mauritanian forces which remain 
loyal to President Taya and are conducting anti-terrorist 
operations against the GSPC in northern Mauritania: will they 
seek to overturn the coup by moving on Nouakchott.  Foucher 
said there were no indications that these forces intended to 
take such action. 
 
2.  (C)  Foucher agreed with reftel assessment that the coup 
involved two factions of White Moors.  He said that this was 
a classic "inside the Palace coup," similar to the one 
President Taya led when he came to power in 1984.  Foucher 
said the identities of the current coup leaders were not 
clear to the GOF.  He noted that the junta had named Police 
Chief Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall as its leader and that 
Ould Abdel Aziz of the Presidential Security Battalion was 
also reported as one of the junta's leaders.  However, 
Foucher said that it was not certain that these two 
individuals were the actual leaders of the coup. 
 
3.  (C)  Foucher said that President Taya, in Niger, had 
expressed concern about arranging for his family members to 
leave Mauritania.  According to Foucher, Taya had not 
expressed any strong interest in returning to Mauritania. 
 
4.  (C)  Following French practice, Foucher said that France 
recognized states and not governments and that there was no 
issue of "recognizing" the new holders of power in 
Nouakchott.  However, at the beginning of our meeting with 
him, Foucher said that the French Ambassador in Nouakchott 
was seeking guidance from Paris as to whether he should meet 
with junta leaders if convoked by them either as an 
individual or as part of a mass convocation of the diplomatic 
corps.  At a later point in the meeting, after conversing 
with the Prime Ministry, Foucher said that the French 
Ambassador was authorized to meet with the junta members if 
called to do so. 
 
5.  (U)  Foucher said that France had not issued a new press 
statement on the coup since issuing one on August 3.  That 
statement (Embassy informal translation) follows, along with 
Q and A from August 3 and 4. 
 
BEGIN August 3 Press Statement: 
 
--  France is following with concern the situation taking 
place today in Mauritania and remains in close contact with 
its partners. 
 
--  France recalls its basic principle that condemns all 
seizures of power by force, and calls for the respect of 
democracy and the legal institutional framework. 
 
END Press Statement. 
 
August 3 Q&A: 
 
--  Q:  Gun shots were heard this morning near the 
presidential building in Mauritania.  What is your reaction 
to what is happening?  Can you give us details on these 
events? 
 
--  A:  We are aware of the first dispatches.  We are seeking 
information.  We are not in a position to give details on 
events taking place in a foreign country. 
 
--  Q:  There is a Mauritanian opposition in France.  Are 
there contacts with it? 
 
--  A:  I have no indication of the presence in France of a 
Mauritanian opposition. 
 
August 4 Q&A: 
 
--  Q:  Following the coup d'etat in Mauritania, do you have 
any particular worries about the French community?  How many 
French are in Mauritania according to your estimates? 
 
--  A:  Our embassy is in contact with French nationals, who 
are usually, during this summer season, at a reduced number. 
There have been no reported incidents, but as a precaution, 
our embassy is advising them not to leave their homes or 
hotels. 
STAPLETON