Aha, so the ruling party in Mauritania will be called Union pour la république (UPR). It was confirmed Wednesday, when the newly created party elected Gen. Mohamed ould Abdelaziz as its first leader and presidential candidate. Pro-regime parliamentarians have duly stampeded to join the UPR, and it already holds a majority in parliament. You sure can’t accuse Mauritanian apparatchiks and tribal notables of not being principled: they’d rather die than oppose the person currently in control of state salaries.
“The country today has 73 parties”, Gen. Abdelaziz said in his inaugural speech, “and the UPR must distinguish itself by assuming a vanguard position in the struggle against injustice, the diversion of public funds, and to banish regionalism and tribalism.”
Yep. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. In other news, we hear, two Mauritanian lieutenant-colonels were arrested yesterday, while the army leadership suddenly announced that soldiers will be given land for free. Hm. But move along now, or you’ll miss the party.
