Eric Witte October 1st, 2008

Following the August 6 coup in Mauritania, the United States, World Bank, and European Union announced the suspension of non-humanitarian aid to the Sahelian country.  As I noted at the time, while this was welcome, the real leverage came with lucrative international fishing and mining deals in Mauritania.  It was encouraging then, when a spokesperson for EU Aid and Development Commissioner Louis Michel stated in late August that Michel would request suspension of a fishing arrangement worth approximately €75 million per year “until there is a resolution to the situation”.

In mid-September it appeared that EU and French resolve in facing down the Mauritanian junta could be wavering.  Now it appears that it has caved altogether.  Following a meeting of EU fisheries ministers this Monday and Tuesday, the French EU presidency issued a statement that was cryptic on the Mauritanian issue.  It stated that the Agricultural and Fisheries Council “authorised the Commission to proceed with the payment of the funds provided for by the EU-Mauritania fishing agreement, provided that all the requisite conditions have been met.”  Requisite conditions, meaning restoration of the democratic order?  It turns out that the conditions are nothing of the sort:

For the moment, the European Commission — which regulates EU fishing policy — has decided to suspend the payment.

Under the terms of the agreement, once Mauritania has notified Brussels of the funds’ non-arrival, the Commission has 30 working days to transfer its payment. If it doesn’t do that in time, Mauritania gains the right to suspend the whole deal.

That 30-day period runs out on Oct. 15.

“We are making use of the time we have to ascertain that the terms of the agreement concerning the uses of the money that we give to Mauritania will be adhered to and be respected, before we effect the payment,” EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said.

“If we have confirmation from Mauritania that they respect the terms of the agreement, then payment will be effected within the deadline,” he said in an interview. “But we need confirmation that what was agreed with the previous government will be respected.”

So as long as the illegitimate junta fulfills technical terms agreed by the democratically elected government, it can enjoy the economic benefits of the deal.  Either the EU position has significantly weakened since the Aid and Development Commissioner’s demand was for “a resolution to the situation”, or those were just weasel words to begin with. 

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Eric Witte September 17th, 2008

As I noted last month, EU Aid and Development Commissioner Loius Michel was requesting suspension of a 75 million Euro/year fishing agreement with Mauritania in a bid to step up international pressure on the illegitimate regime following the August 6 coup.  The issue was set to be discussed by the Council of the European Union this month.  The September meeting of EU foreign ministers has come and gone, and it appears that the fishing agreement remains intact.  In place of anything consequential, EU foreign ministers did agree, however, to begin “consultations” and a “constructive dialogue” with the Mauritanian junta. 

Meanwhile, representatives of the French EU presidency met with Ramtane Lamamra, the African Union’s Commissioner for Peace and Security.  According to a statement by EU Presidency, they agreed on these points:

- the need for the immediate release of President Abdallahi and for the institutions to resume normal operations;

- the need to work towards a solution to the crisis with the agreement of the different Mauritanian parties;

- the readiness of the African Union, the European Union, and the International Organization of la Francophonie to accompany Mauritania’s efforts in this direction.

That’s thin gruel compared to last month’s tough talk about withdrawal of the lucrative fishing deal.  Is it too cynical to recall in this context that France is one of the five EU member states whose fishing fleets are allowed access to Mauritania’s rich waters under that deal?

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Eric Witte August 18th, 2008

As I noted on Friday, suspension of international aid to Mauritania following the coup earlier this month may have a limited impact on the junta so long as lucrative fishing and mining contracts continue to fund the government.  Today, a spokesperson for the European Commission said that EU Aid and Development Commissioner Louis Michel will propose to the European Council that non-humanitarian aid and the fishing agreement worth Euro 75.25 million per year be frozen until there is an acceptable solution to the crisis.  Mauritania will be on the agenda when the Council (foreign ministers of the 27 EU members) meets in September.  The governments to watch are those of France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece - those whose fishing fleets have access to Mauritanian waters under the agreement in question.

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Eric Witte August 15th, 2008

Following last week’s coup in Mauritania, the United States quickly suspended non-humanitarian aid and the African Union suspended Mauritania’s membership, signaling a promising coordinated defense of Mauritania’s young democracy.  On Monday, France followed suit in suspending non-humanitarian aid.  The  European Commission appeared to be working in the same direction, but leaving itself wiggle room.  European Voice reported on Tuesday [subscription req’d]:

“A spokesperson for Louis Michel, European commissioner in charge of development, told European Voice that the EU executive is preparing to launch formal consultations with Mauritania, under the Cotonou agreement which governs the relationship between the EU and African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. The agreement foresees the launch of such consultations when countries breach principles of democracy and respect for human rights. The spokesperson said that ‘the potential of suspension [of development aid] is there’, if the discussions do not produce satisfactory results.”

With international pressure mounting, things might seem bleak for the coup plotters who overthrew President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi. 

Or do they? 

Reuters reports that international companies involved in extracting natural resources in Mauritania remain unperturbed by the coup.  Their activities continue unhindered, and now provide remittances to an illegitimate government.  Extraction in the areas of oil, gas and uranium are relatively young, meaning that the coup has occured as exploration is giving way to more lucrative production.  The same Reuters report notes that Chinese demand is driving up prices for iron ore, so this staple of the Mauritanian economy is producing record profits.

In an additional bit of good news for General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and other members of the junta, just five days before seizing power, a four-year fishing agreement between the European Union and Mauritania came into effect.  In exchange for access to Mauritanian waters for fishing vessels from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece, the EU will pay Mauritania EUR 76.25 million per year.  The $23 million (about EUR 15 million) in suspended American assistance to Mauritania suddenly seems less impressive.

Yesterday, the junta named a former Mauritanian ambassador to the European Union, Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, as prime minister.  Reuters quotes an anonymous diplomat saying, “Internationally speaking it’s a strategic nomination because he is pro-European and he knows how Brussels works.”  But it gets worse.  Digging deeper into Laghdaf’s background, Agence de Presse Africaine reports that he has specific experience in coordinating European support for natural resource extraction in Mauritania:

“He worked as an international consultant between 1997 and 2000 and before that as an expert at the Centre for Industrial Development (TDCI) of the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) states and the European Union (1991-1997).

He was in charge of selecting adapted technologies for the development of ores at the TDCI, searching for European partners and institutions to finance identified projects.

He was in charge of developing the mining resources of the ACP states, particularly the implementation of the mining and industrial part of the Lome Convention.

He wrote and published practical guides on increasing the value of mining resources of the ACP states and developing the phosphates of Mauritania, Senegal, Mali and Togo.”

It appears that to really pressure the putchists, the European Union and its member states will have to prioritize the defense of democracy over mercantilism and parochial interests. 

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