The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

In response to an invitation from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, an Election Observer Mission of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States arrived in Nouakchott on 14 July 2009 to observe the presidential elections scheduled to take place in Mauritania on 18 July 2009.  

The ACP Election Observer Mission comprised H.E. Mrs. Marcia Y. GILBERT-ROBERTS, Ambassador of Jamaica to Brussels, H.E. Mrs. Nana Bema KUMI, Ambassador of Ghana to Brussels and Mr. Mahamane Aoudou CISSÉ of the ACP Secretariat. The main aim of the Mission, which was led by Ambassador GILBERT-ROBERTS in her capacity as Chair of the Subcommittee on Political, Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs, was to observe the elections and ascertain whether voting was conducted under free, fair and transparent conditions.

By way of pre-election activities, the ACP Mission participated in briefing sessions organised for international observers and the media, with the participation of representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and the Inter-ministerial Elections Coordination and Communication Unit (CICEL). The ACP Mission exchanged views with members of other accredited international and regional election observer missions.

On the day of the elections, the ACP Mission visited twelve polling stations in the capital, Nouakchott, and other constituencies (Moughataa) in the rural areas, such as Dar Naim, Toujounine, Wadenaga, Arafat, Ksar, etc. The crowds which queued up in front of the polling stations were an indication of a high voter turnout. The Mission witnessed the official opening and closing of the polls, as well as the entire vote-counting process, in particular that of the polling station of the Sebkha constituency.

In all the polling stations visited, the Mission noticed that the voting materials and equipment were in order and that all the procedures were followed properly as regards the sealing and arrangement of the ballot boxes, assistance for voters, stamping of ballots, voting secrecy, etc. In every polling station, representatives of at least six of the nine presidential candidates were present. Voting was conducted in a calm, orderly manner in all the polling stations where the elections were observed.

There were two cases where it appeared that voters were unable to exercise their right to vote because their names were not on the voters’ register of the polling station for one reason or the other, as explained to the ACP Mission (errors in indicating the correct polling station or the omission, from the national register, of young voters who had only just reached voting age). In addition, late voters were unable to vote because they arrived at the polling station after the polls had been closed. The ACP Mission did not observe any illegal practices or irregularities in any of the polling stations visited or any incident in or outside the stations.  

The ACP Mission was pleased with the peaceful atmosphere which reigned before, during and immediately after the elections. Based on its observations, the ACP Mission is of the view that the elections were conducted in an orderly, transparent, democratic and fair manner.

The ACP Election Observation Mission extends its best wishes to the people of Mauritania.  

Done in Nouakchott on 19 July 2008

For the ACP Committee of Ambassadors

H.E. Mrs. M. Y. Gilbert-Roberts
 Ambassador of Jamaica,
Chair, Subcommittee on Political,
Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs