Global Voices » Mauritania

Sahel Region: 1.6 Million Children at Risk of Malnutrition

Lova Rakotomalala — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:11:31 +0000

Afrik.com reports that [fr]: ” because of the low harvest and an increase of 60 to 80 % in cereal pricing, 10 millions people across Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Chad will be affected by food security issues, including 1.6 million children.”

Mauritania: Terror Grips Town

Ndesanjo Macha — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:28:54 +0000

Terror grips city of Kiffa in Mauritania: “Poet and filmmaker Mohamed Ould Idoumou, a Kiffa native, told Magharebia that that the city has never seen cases of terrorism before because of its isolated location in the desert.”

Mauritania: Earth's Bulls Eye

Amira Al Hussaini — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:53:14 +0000

Algerian-American Kal, or The Moor Next Door, shares this interesting geographical tidbit about Mauritania: “f readers ever get into space, they may find themselves looking for Mauritania, or its enormous Richat Structure, sometimes called ‘Earth’s Bulls-Eye.’”

Mauritania: Bloggers Call for the Boycott of Government-Sponsored Conference

Hisham Almiraat — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:48:51 +0000

Mauritanian media has reported [ar] this week that the country's authorities are preparing a major meeting in the capital Nouakchott of prominent Arab bloggers and activists. The gathering, which will take place from 25 to 28 December, will be featuring “major bloggers who played a significant role in the revolutions against dictatorships in their countries.”

The Mauritanian newspaper El Mohit [ar] explains that President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is overseeing preparations for the meeting and has appointed senior officials to ensure the organisation of the event.

President Ould Abdel Aziz is a high-ranking military officer, who came to power in August 2008 following a coup that toppled then-President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.

February 25 Movement Rally - Picture by Dedda Ould Cheikh Brahim

The announcement of the meeting comes less then two months after local independent bloggers and members of the pro-democracy February 25 Movement were forced to cancel a similar gathering in Zouerat, northern Mauritania. The website, Mauri-Culture, reports [ar] that bloggers had experienced administrative “harassment” at the hands of the authorities and were forced to postpone their meeting to “avoid a confrontation with the regime.”

On Tuesday, Mauritanian bloggers reacted to the announcement of the upcoming government-sponsored conference by publishing an open letter to fellow Arab netizens and activists asking them not to attend.

Ahmed Ould Jedou is among many other Mauritanian bloggers who published [ar] the open letter. Following is the translation of excerpts of the document:

قبل شهرين أعلن عن تنظيم “اللقاء الوطني حول تقنيات التواصل الاجتماعي “,في مدينة “الزويرات “الموريتانية و,الذي كان يهدف المنظمين من خلاله إلى ربط الصلاة بين النشطاء العرب وإخوتهم الموريتانيين لتبادل الخبرات
[…]
إلا أن النظام العسكري في موريتانيا قام بمنع تنظيم هذا اللقاء رغم أن الهيئة التي دعت له مرخص لها لدى السلطات الموريتانية ولم يبدى النظام أي تبرير إلا أنه يعترض على مشاركة بعض النشطاء الموريتانيين في هذا الملتقى .
واليوم توجد أخبار عن عزم النظام العسكري في موريتانيا على تنظيم ملتقى شبابي سياسي يحضره بعض نجوم الربيع العربي.
ولهذا نوجه رسالة إلى كل المدونين, والنشطاء العرب مفادها أنه عليهم أن لا يشاركوا في هذا النشاط الذي يحاول هذا النظام العسكري القمعي تجميل صورته به ,فهذا النظام وقف ضد الثورات العربية فدعم القذافي حتى بعد سقوطه دعمه باستماتة ودعم بشار وبعث له رئيس وزرائهم ليؤكد وقوفه معه في حربه ضد شعبه .
وهذا النظام يقمع التظاهرات السلمية في موريتانيا فقد قمع مظاهرات حركة 25 فبراير وقتل أحد نشطاء حركة “لاتلمس جنسيتي”,ومازال يقمع كل التحركات السلمية ويحرم الموريتانيين من حقهم في التظاهر ,ويضيق على النشطاء الحقوقيين .
وهذا النظام حرم الشعب الموريتاني من تجربته الديمقراطية الوليدة التي أبهرت العالم فقام رأسه بإزاحة أول رئيس مدني منتخب في موريتانيا .
لذالك نرجوا من كل أصحاب الضمائر الحية من” المدونين” و”لنشطاء” العرب عدم المشاركة في هذا الملتقي كي لا يجملوا وجه نظام عسكري قبيح ويشاركوا في قمع شعب مقهور .
المدونون الموريتانيون

Two months ago, the “National Conference on Social Media Techniques” announced the organization of a meeting in the city of Zouerat. It was aimed at bringing together Arab activists and their Mauritanian counterparts in order to exchange experiences […]

However, the military regime in Mauritania blocked the organization of the meeting, despite the fact that the organizers had met all legal requirements. No justifications were given by the regime as to why it didn't allow the event to take place other than the fact it was opposed to the participation of some Mauritanians activists.

Today, we learn that the military regime in Mauritania is organizing a political meeting and inviting the young and most active stars of the Arab Spring […]

That is why we are sending this message to all Arab bloggers and activists to tell them that they should not participate in this event, which is an attempt by this repressive, military regime to embellish its image. This regime has stood against Arab revolutions, in support of Gaddafi [in Libya]. It has supported Bashar [al-Assad in Syria], sending him the Prime Minister in a show of support for his war against his own people.

This regime is suppressing peaceful demonstrations in Mauritania. It has suppressed demonstrations led by the February 25 pro-democracy movement. It has killed an activist from the “Touche pas à ma nationalité” movement [an anti-racism group created following the exclusion of black Mauritanians from a national census]. It has repressed all non-violent movements, has deprived Mauritanians of their right to demonstrate, and is constantly harassing human rights activists.

This regime has deprived the Mauritanian people of their nascent democracy. It has toppled the first elected civilian president of Mauritania [Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in 2008].

This is why we are calling upon all people of conscience among Arab bloggers and activists: do not participate in this meeting; do not help the military regime embellish its face; do not take part in the repression of an oppressed people.

Mauritanian bloggers.

Sahel Region: Slavery still very much a Reality for Some

Vivienne Griffiths — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:30:45 +0000

In an interview carried out by François Mauger with Mme Sophia Lakhdar [fr], Director of the Comité Contre l’Esclavage Moderne (Comittee Against Modern Slavery) published on the mondomix.com blog, she states: “Today human trafficking has taken over as the notion of modern slavery, which is a bit contrived. However it helps raise awareness and mobilize public opinion in the 1990's. That does not mean that in certain countries slavery no longer exists. I am thinking most notably of Mauritania, Sudan and Niger”

Mauritania: Black Mauritanians Fear for their Citizenship as Census Proceeds

Lova Rakotomalala — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:24:29 +0000

Bakari Guèye in Magharebia reports that the city of Kaedi erupted into violence on September 24 and 30, 2011, because the black community feared that the census would be used as a discriminatory tool to relegate them to second class citizen status. Babacar Justin Ndiaye explains that only Black Mauritanians are asked to produce documentation [fr] that would justify their Mauritanian citizenship.

Mauritania: 13 Activists against Child Trafficking Arrested

Lova Rakotomalala — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:59:44 +0000

Four advocacy organizations against human trafficking note that a peaceful sit-in outside the Bureau of juvenile affairs was organized [fr] by l’Initiative pour la Résurgence du mouvement Abolitionniste (Ira) to denounce the insufficient measures taken against child trafficking in Mauritania. 13 members of the association were arrested following the protest.

Mauritania: Discrimination Plagues Census

Claire Ulrich — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:06:32 +0000

adrar-info.net publishes an article on Mauritanian demonstrations in Paris and Mauritania, related to the current population census in Mauritania. Black Mauritanians apparently have a difficult time getting their name registered [fr]. According to Haimout Ba, the Paris based representative of UFP (Union of Forces of Progress, an opposition party), “they are requested to show their parents and grandparents' identity documents, and asked if they know this or that person, of Arab origin. They are even quizzed over the geography of the country!”

Mauritania: Ending Slavery in Mauritania

Ndesanjo Macha — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:19:02 +0000

Beyond abolition: Ending Slavery in Mauritania: “Slaves in Mauritania do not have a legal right to own property, let alone have a surname. Nor do they have a right to custody of their children. The 2007 law criminalizing the ownership of slaves was received with resistance and scoffing. The director of the Mauritanian government‘s Human Right Commission, Bamariam Koita even defended the fact that as of yet, no one had been prosecuted under the law.”

Africa: A Possible Al-Qaeda Redeployment in Africa?

Thalia Rahme — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:59:51 +0000

On his blog, Dierry Diallo takes up an article [fr] on Slate.fr where one can read: “For the GSPC , the stakes are enormous: it's about controlling a formidable strip of land stretching from the Atlantic and Mauritania all the way to Sinai and the Red Sea. Hence Bin Laden's idea at that time: to transfer war from the narrow Middle East to the Sahel and Sahara, even if troops are much fewer there.”

Libya: Sub-Saharan Africans in Serious Danger

Mairi Mcgivern — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:55:58 +0000

This article is part of our special coverage on the uprising in Libya.

The crisis in Libya since the uprisings against Colonel Mouammar Gaddafi has not only had dramatic consequences for Libyans, but also for Sub-Saharan African citizens residing in Libya. Thousands of refugees are exposed to terrible conditions on journeys to the nearest borders, and numerous black Africans currently do not dare to leave their homes, not even to find something to eat. Why is this?

The digital portal for the civil society of Maghreb e-Joussour.net explains in an article [fr] published on March 2, 2011:

De peur d'être pris pour des mercenaires à la solde du pouvoir de Mouammar Kadhafi, les migrants subsahariens vivant en Libye se cachent depuis le début de la répression sanglante, au risque de se retrouver oubliés dans ce pays qu'ils veulent quitter.

For fear of being mistaken as mercenaries working to uphold the powerful regime of Mouammar Gaddafi, Sub-Saharan migrants living in Libya have been forced to hide ever since the onslaught of the repression began. Yet they run the risk of finding themselves forgotten in a county they wish to leave.

Hundreds of thousands have migrated to Libya from all over the African continent, notably from the countries within close proximity, such as approximately 300,000 from Chad, 50,000 from Nigeria and 10,000 from Mauritania. In an article on Mediapart [fr] (subscription required), Carine Fouteau remarks:

Regrouped according to nationality in certain areas of the larger cities, they are calling for help but are not heard. ‘The Sub-Saharan Africans are afraid. After the information we received from the Malians, they gather together as much as possible, up to 10, 20 or 30 at a time. They cannot get out, they live underground. Anyone with black skin is in hiding because certain individuals have experienced some abuse”, reports Alassane Dicko, one of the co-ordinators/leaders of the Malian Association of Deportation (AME), situated in Bamako.

Global Voices previously shared citizen videos related to the African mercenary question.

Al Jazeera English shares a video report on the dangers faced by black Africans in Libya.

In a report of Malian testimonies on the website Bamanet.net, Abdou Karim Maiga recounts the experience of certain individuals [fr] who are refusing to flee.

Mamadou Diakite, who is around thirty and works as a civil servant, recounts that “since the beginning of the conflict, we have been persecuted and especially since the press began to speak of the implication that many blacks are mercenaries working closely with Gaddafi. People here say that our president supports Gaddafi and therefore we are viewed as traitors.

Another Malian, Chaka Sidibe, arrived in Libya just four months ago. He affirms that for several nights he and his friends have not slept and adds that [fr]:

We have been abandoned by our Chinese bosses who have been evacuated by their country and their villagers have asked us to leave as quickly as possible. We came together and crossed the Egyptian border by foot.

The website Relief Web reports real life stories of people who have attempted to save their own lives:

Fearing for their lives, given the targeting of Sub-Saharan Africans, and desperate to leave Libya, they had paid a human trafficker to take them to Egypt in a sealed and refrigerated truck.

The information agency of the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Irin News, reports the experience of some Somalis [fr].

Their food reserves are almost totally exhausted, he explained, “The landlord did the shopping for us but we are missing a lot. We had a little bit of money when the troubles first erupted, but we are labourers and it has now been 12 days since we last worked.

Additionally, it is the women who have paid the heaviest price during this conflict, Shamso Mohammed, a Somali refugee, told IRIN in the same article:

The Somali women are particularly worried about what might happen. “I arrived here almost a year and a half ago in order to try to get myself to Europe, but so far I have not succeeded and now I find myself in the exact same situation I was trying to escape from by fleeing Somalia.”

Maryan Ali, who lives under the same roof as Shamso, has said that she fears they may come and attack them in their homes. “The residencies of several Somalians would have been, in effect, the target of attackers”, she added.

Three of her friends disappeared five days ago, she revealed. “We called them for work and they went; the last news we have of them is that they were taken by a car driven and accompanied by armoured men. We have no idea what the men have done to them and we have no one to turn to for help.”

Boukary Daou wrote in an article published on Maliweb.net:

On this Wednesday, (2nd March), there are around 134 migrants, who have trampled the soil of home. But this is just a small fraction of our compatriots living in Libya.

According to the last administrative census carried out by the vocational electorate of the civil State, (Ravec) there are more than 9000 Malians still to be accounted for.

The site Podcast Journal signaled other sources of worry for the HCR and the OIM:

Melissa Fleming, spokesperson of the HCR, made known to the HCR some concerns over the destiny of a ‘large number of refugees of Sub-Saharan African origin who are not yet authorised to enter into Tunisian territory.’ This is an issue equally signalled as a concern by the spokesperson of the International Migration Organisation (OMI), Jemini Pandya, who also works to help with the evacuation process of non-Libyan nationals.

In another article by Carine Fouteau on Mediapart (reproduced on Centrafrique Presse), Jean-Phillipe Chauzy, spokesman of International Organisation of Migration (IOM), explains:

Those who do not have any official papers are literally restricted over there. What’s more is that there are copious levels of people in this situation; from Mali, Guinea, Nigeria, Niger, Toga, Benin, Burkina Faso etc. Without a passport it is improbable that they would be authorised to leave the country. Their situation is a particularly pressing issue.

This article is part of our special coverage on the uprising in Libya.

Mauritania: Mauritanian youth protesters’ 7 points

Ndesanjo Macha — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:46:30 +0000

Kal reproduces and translates Mauritanian youth protesters’ 7 points: The list was published on the Facebook page of the website “For Mauritania.” Each item on the list includes detailed explanations of the organizers’ rationale for making them and their urgency. The list is titled “Seven cardinal points for building a modern state”.

Mauritania: Will protesters take to the streets tomorrow?

Ndesanjo Macha — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:19:30 +0000

Protesters took to the streets in Mauritania on Friday calling for political reforms and an end to President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz rule. Young people continued a sit-in the following day. @abbassbraham reports that protesters will be back to the streets tomorrow.

The Moor Next Door reflects on the protests by sharing a map of the political parties and social groups that took part and the notable ones that did not participate in the 25 February protests.

(RFD refers to Rally of Forces for Democracy; UFP the Union of Forces for Progress; RUF to the Rally for Unity and Democracy; UPR to the Union for the Republic (President Ould Abdel Aziz’s party); and APP to the People’s Progressive Alliance (Messaoud Boulkheir’s party. “FB organizers” refers to Facebook groups (of which there are many) and their followers who turned out to the demonstrations the largest of which have some thousands of members (two of these are mentioned by name).)

Why did people protest?:

1. Background. Mauritania shares several problems in common with those Arab states experiencing demonstrations and uprisings namely a crisis of political legitimacy (its president came to power first through a coup and then by disputed elections), rising food prices and precarious living standards and a popular sense of disenfranchisement. Discontent with the President predates both Friday’s protests and the wave of unrest spreading across the region. Many Mauritanians are weary of government so frequently dominated by military men and their pliant apparatchiks. Ould Abdel Aziz is widely seen as having usurped the country’s nascent democratic process in 2008 (even if many saw the previous president as ineffectual and weak). Economic pressures, floods, near famine-like conditions and a risky water situation add to popular irritation, especially among youth. Protests are not uncommon in Mauritania, which has a lively and diverse opposition. The tone and content of this week’s protests differ from past protests in that they have been led by youth of various persuasions rather than political party leaders.

Amar responds to The Moor Next Door:

This posting seems good. It reflects in a condensed manner, the mauritanian political landscape with more or less accuracy.
However, nowhere, in the post, mention is made of close relations between the AZIZ’s regime (junta members, relatives and businessmen etc …) and France (françafrique team) and what, in reality, underlies these ties?
Perhaps, the response is this well organized Mauritanian wealth outflow to France (oil, gold, uranium, rare earths of Taoudeni basin) as well as various lucrative contracts with a strong smell of ”franceafrique”.
Moreover, it would have been interesting to attempt to correlate the genesis of French colonialism in Mauritania at the dawn of the 20th century versus the new form of “modern” colonialism adopted nowadays in order to achieve the same purposes, as before, but with less damage, today.

Tidinit argues that the main political parties in Mauritania will not abandon President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz:

As I have said before, unless Aziz does an inthinkable mistake such as shooting people, France, the US and the main political parties will not abandon him and will even support him for the next elections in 2014 because most benefit from Aziz’s patronage and money and that what they are looking for. Moreover, he has been in power for less than two years (he fooled the opposition, proof that they are a bunch of useless people) and I do blieve it is better he continues until next election and lose if he does bad or win if he does bad. People are kind of tired of change of power through coups since 1978.

Jackie Cohen says that Mauritania’s protests show the wave of revolutions in the region may begin to slow down:

Regardless, the more peaceful nature and smaller number of participants in Mauritania’s demonstration compared to neighboring countries in northern Africa might signal that the wave of revolutions in the region might begin to slow down. That would seem like a good thing, given how violent things have gotten in nations like Libya. And the more peacefully these changes come about, the better not only for the citizens involved but also for Facebook, which has gotten flack from people who exaggerate the site’s role in the Middle East.

#Mauritania tweets:
@abbassbraham:

Mauritania youth are back to the streets tomorrow. Bad night for the military junta and their hanger-ons.

@johntmorgan:

@abbassbraham Any link to that? Trying to keep on top of #Mauritania for an English speaking Facebook page, no luck - any pg to follow?

@Kengeo_com:

Tell us, where is #Mauritania on the map http://ow.ly/1bxljY

@Abdarrahmen:

11 millions as a gift by qatar to #mauritania will surely transfered to #aziz [President Mohammed Aziz] acount and his friends !

Will people take to the streets tomorrow? Let's wait and see.

Mauritania: Pro-Democracy Protests Break Out in Nouakchott

Amira Al Hussaini — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:39:54 +0000

Protests broke out in Nouakchott, Mauritania's capital today, after young people assembled themselves online to call for rallies, which demand social, political and economic reforms, and an end to Mauritania's military rule.

Up to 2,000 protesters have reportedly marched to Blockat Square, where some intend to camp, until their demands are met. Among their demands are a cap on rising costs of living and a solution to the problem of unemployment. Others spoke out against discrimination and the fall of the military rule. This youth movement follows similar movements we have been witnessing across the Arab world since the Tunisian uprising - youth assembling themselves both in real life and virtual spaces, and protesting on the streets until their demands are met.

Mauritania's protests coincide with similar youth movements in Bahrain, Iraq, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, Yemen and Libya.

On a Facebook page, one of the groups calling for the protests state:

نجحت الثورة التونسية ثم الثورة المصرية بعد ذلك بفترة وجيزة فبدأت شعوب المنطقة تتطلع لغد أفضل بعد أن أصاب الإحباط كثيرا من أبنائها وبعد أن ظلت لفترة طويلة تعيش تحت وطأة الاستبداد والظلم والقهر.
نجح قبل ذلك الأتراك من خلال الأحزاب والمجتمع المدني في إنشاء اقتصاد قوي وديمقراطية وليدة استطاعوا من خلالها إبعاد العسكر عن الحكم.
وقبل الأتراك نجح الإسبان في الانتقال إلى الديمقراطية عن طريق المصالحة وقاد الملك إخوان كارلوس بنفسه عملية التحول.
هناك إذا نماذج ناجحة مختلفة لانتقال ديمقراطي : النموذج التونسي والمصري (قيد التشكل) ، النموذج التركي والنموذج الإسباني.
أنشأت هذه الصفحة لتبادل الآراء لصناعة غد أفضل لبلدنا موريتانيا.
أي النماذج السابقة أصلح لنا وأيهم بإمكانه التحقق وكيف نساهم في تحقيقه؟
بإمكانكم أيضا اقتراح نماذج أخرى والهدف هو أن نحقق الديمقراطية والعدالة في بلدنا.
ننتظر إذن مشاركاتكم جميعا مهما كان موقفكم فهنا ديمقراطيتنا هنا سنصنع دولتنا على الفيس بوك قبل أن نراها واقعا بإذن الله تعالى.

The Tunisian revolution has succeeded, followed by the Egyptian revolution, a short period of time after it. People in the region have started to aspire for a better tomorrow after they have suffered from depression after living in oppression and injustice for a long period of time.
The Turks have succeeded before them, through creating political parties and with the help of a civic society, to create a strong economy, and with their new democracy, they have been able to push the military from power.
And before the Turks, the Spaniards were able to become a democracy through reconciliation, and King Juan Carlos himself led the reforms.
There are many successful examples of a transition into democracy. The Tunisian and Egyptian models (under formation), as well as the Turkish and Spanish models.
This page has been created to exchange views for a better tomorrow for our country Mauritania.
Which of those previous models is most suitable for us and which is the one we can achieve and work on implementing?
You can also suggest other models. The goal is to achieve democracy and justice in our country.
We look forward to your participation, whatever your opinion. This is where our democracy is and this is where we will create our country - on Facebook - before we are able to see it in reality.

Their mission reads:

أن تنعم موريتانيا بالحرية والديمقراطية

For Mauritania to enjoy freedom and democracy

Although the pages has 200 likes only, the protest seems to have materialised, as young Mauritanians march towards freedom and democracy.

Here is a snap shot from what happened today from Twitter:

@NickKristof: The democracy uprising is spreading to new parts of Africa: Cameroon, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Mauritania.

@Dima_Khatib: What a day ! Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritania, Yemen, Libya, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq… anywhere else? Arabs demonstrating on the streets

@Malakyz: Today made history: Protests in #Libya, #Yemen, #Egypt, #Tunisia, #Bahrain, #Morocco, #Iraq, #Palestine, #Jordan, #Mauritania. SOLIDARITY

@ZEKELMOUDEN: Now thousands of youth marching in Mauritania claiming end Aziz's junta ruling the country, better live conditions and real democraty.

Akhbar tweets (Ar):

تظاهرة شبابية في موريتانيا تخللتها دعوات لاسقاط النظام #mauritania

“A youth demonstration took place in Mauritania, with calls for the regime to fall.”

@bandolero69: The waves of protests have even spread to the impoverished state of Mauritania, where hundreds of people took to the streets of Nouakchott.

This is the spot protesters took over in Nouakchott, #Mauritania
@mauritaniedem1: some protesters came to #blockatesquare on their feet, couz the government stopped the buses. #Mauritania #feb25 http://yfrog.com/h4xygxp

@buthaina: WhoHoo!! #Now #Mauritania! Welcome aboard #Nouakchott - #Responsible #Freedom #Democracy #Fail #Corruption

@Doylech: The main square in Nouakchott in #Mauritania now has a name yes Tahrir square

@vatyma: #Mauritania: Protesters chant “Bayteen wa mkamleen layn timshou 3ana kamleen!” (we're sleeping over and from now on until the regime leaves)

@Abdarrahmen: From Blockate square #Mauritania http://twitpic.com/43o2c4

@Abdarrahmen: Saket Lash ” Why you don't talk ” From Blockate square #Mauritania http://twitpic.com/43o4r4

@AbdallahJeilany: the protesters started built their tents and try to organize everything because they scared from thuggish to disrupt the protest #Mauritania

@mauritaniedem1: the protesters Now are more then 5000 and they r increasing. :)#Mauritania

Abdullah Jellany explains (Ar):

# Mauritania بعد نصب منصة طلب الكلام أحد الشباب وعندما صعد بدأ يشكر عزيز فأنزله بعض وضربه البعض الآخر ويبدو أن الهدف كان إثارة البلبلة

“After the platform was erected, one of the young men asked to speak and then started thanking Aziz. So some of the protesters pulled him down and others started beating him. It seems that his goal was to create disruption.”

Abdellahi2 adds (Ar):

بلطجية يعتدون على مدير مكتب الجزيرة في موريتانيا.. والمنظمون يعتذرون #Mauritanie #Mauritania #Nouakchott #Nktt #25Fev

“Thugs attack the manager of Al Jazeera office in Mauritania .. and the protest organisers apologise.”

@mauritaniedem1: some thugs were trying to beat #Aljazeera reporter Mohamed Baba Achefagha. but the protesters prevented them. #Mauritania

@AbdallahJeilany: some criminales wanted to rob a bank next Blockate but the protesters capt them and calm the situation #mauritania

@mauritaniedem1: The protesters stood up against the thuggish in #Mauritania In order to prevent them from vandalism and now the situation is fine. #’Feb17

@Abdarrahmen: One of the protesters try to burn himself at Blockat square, but finally they arresteds him #Mauritania

@: Saket Lash “Why you don't talk ” #mauritania http://twitpic.com/43p61h

@Abdarrahmen: National Tv broadcasts images of the demo this day it's just like copy-paste the experiance of egypte-libya National tvs #Mauritania

@Doylech: The Mauritanian PM has promised to improve economic situation and give pieces of land to the poor following demos #mauritania

@virtualactivism: Nouachkut: ‘the people want the fall of regime'. Holy God!!! there goes #Mauritania too. I suggest Arab League disband immediately

@mauritaniedem1: My name's Freedom bornin Tunisia, raised in Egypt, studied in Yemen and #Mauritania, fought in Libya and I'll grow up in all the Arab world.

More photographs from today can be found on the protest pages on Facebook here and here.

Tunisia: Keeping a Tab on Dissidents

Amira Al Hussaini — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:44:38 +0000

Mauritanian blogger Nasser Weddady translates a document which shows how the former Ben Ali regime of Tunisia kept a tab on its dissidents abroad.