A triple: Mauritania, Manhasset, Le Clézio

I.
Mauritania's parliamentary speaker Messoud ould Boulkheïr, a prominent leader in the anti-coup opposition, has openly come out in favor of the compromise solution that seems to quietly have gained currency: that President Abdellahi is reinstated, but then voluntarily announces premature elections, and that some informal arrangement will guarantee the interests of junta members whatever happens next. The entire FNDD opposition coalition has come out in support.

[picture: messoud ould boulkeïr]

Something like this seems to be the most realistic way out of conflict, and it has the great advantage of preserving both face and formal constitutional legitimacy, although it is hardly a safe route: so much could go wrong. Of course, the most major problem is that the junta is presently on record as opposing such a solution, in spirit if not in words. In their recent negotiations with the African Union, the military argued for what sounded like a similar procedure, but with one crucial added condition: that they themselves maintain full power until the day the elections are held. A child could figure out the impact of that on the electoral process.

II.
The Manhasset negotiations process between Morocco and Front POLISARIO has again made a little noise. Good news: it is still moving. Bad news: it is moving backwards. A Moroccan delegation recently spoke to Ban Ki-moon, saying that from now on, any talks must focus on how to implement the king's autonomy plan, not whether to do it -- the Moroccan autonomy plan must be the "sole platform" for future discussions, leaving aside any proposals from POLISARIO. That is of course unacceptable to the Sahrawis, who respond that in such a case, there would be no point in having negotiations at all. (POLISARIO Sec.-Gen. Abdelaziz will be delivering his own message to Ban soon.)

[picture: christopher ross]

In connection to this, there is some sort of quiet tussle going on about Ban's new envoy-elect, Christopher Ross. POLISARIO is loudly repeating its support for his appointment, aiming to underscore that it is Morocco that still hasn't given the go-ahead. Why? Presumably, the Moroccan negotiators are trying to secure some sort of concession, or just to reentrench themselves in a position of strength, by dragging their feet a little longer. POLISARIO, conversely, is trying to make that position as uncomfortable as possible, by framing Morocco as the obstructing party both on content (what to negotiate about) and procedure (the appointment of a new envoy). They have the not insignificant advantage of actually being correct about that, but, in any event, if the talks stall again, they will be fine with that too -- as long as Morocco takes the fall for it. The process wasn't going Tindouf's way anyhow, and as much as the Front may shower these talks with verbal support, making Morocco squirm is its primary goal in the absence of a fair shot at independence.


III.
A follow-up: Le Clézio has indeed written about Western Sahara. Not only does Désert -- just dug up a copy -- deal with the Ma el-Ainin uprising, and feature a Sahrawi protagonist. He has also written a book with his wife, Jemia, called Gens des nuages, "People of the Clouds." It is about the couple travelling to the lands of the Laaroussiyine tribe, to which she belongs -- apparently she was born in Rabat, and considers herself a Moroccan Sahrawi.

[picture: jean-marie gustave le clézio]