The Government and Political System in Mauritania

The Islalmic Republic of Mauritania’s form of government is really hard to put a finger to as they seem to be changing governments and deposing rulers whenever they wanted to. For the past 5 years, there have been three leaders that has been three figure heads in two coup d’ etats. However, it should be noted that these coups had been bloodless and well-timed.

Currently, constitutional rule has been restored to Mauritania. In fact, just in 2009, democratic elections were held which ended up with Mohamed Ould Abdel AziZ winning the Damocles chair of a presidency.  Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz won by a landslide and hopes to sit as president for 5 years unless another general decides to stage another coup.

In 2005, President Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya was ousted when he visited the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi and never returned. Then, in 2008, President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, was placed under house arrest by his security men and close friends. This turn of events clearly states that power in Mauritania does not rest in the hands of the president or the government but rather in the whims of the generals.

Speculations however are ripe that this may be the last coup to be staged as it seems that Abdel Aziz was the actual mind behind the last 2 coups. If there is one man to give total stability to this African country, the former general would be the man to do the job. Without stability, the country will always remain poor and underdeveloped as foreign investors would not invest in an unpredictable country.

Right now, the constitutional government is l patterned after France’s political platform,    Abdel Aziz is currently assisted by his Prime Minister, Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf and cabinet ministers and as well as duly elected senators and members of the National Assembly.

The country also has a working judicial branch composed of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and lower courts.

For the sake of the people of Mauritania, the progress of the country will take place only if stability can truly be achieved and that the last military junta stays as the last coup to be staged. The country cannot afford to have another coup if they truly want to be a respected status in the international community.