The Political Players Are Up To A New Make-Up

When Ely gets his fiery temper it is the opposition (CFCD) which pays the price, When he is back to his senses his allies go through hard times. Such is the strange political wisdom that we drew from the public fall out which marked last week's heated political backs and forths. Ely caught everybody by surprise when he announced his tailor-made winning formula for the next elections wrecking the hopes of the opposition even before the race is underway. His angry message to the CFCD was something like "not in your wild dreams". Two days later he tried to set it right and correct the reckless political blunder, and announced his plans not to take sides or meddle with the political process. But this backpedaling took with one hand what it gave with another and while it sent reassuring signals to the opposition it alienated Ely's presumed friends, namely Sedioca who is widely tipped to be his favorite candidate. The veteran from Brakna has up to this point banked on Ely's intervention and backing to sneak his way to the palace and would welcome anything but a change of heart to the good that may lead Ely and the CMJD behind him to get their hands off the political contest. He is aware that a sound-minded Ely will not be on his side.

Now that both parties lost hope of leading the vote by playing a lame duck kind of attitude, they started a strong come back taking matters in their own hands, each his way. The opposition which was the first to receive hits from Ely was quick to denounce his move to hijack the election. It went even further than that by calling for a popular meeting in a rare unprecedented show of force meant to remind the CMJD of the stakes involved if it persists down that road. The CFCD's strong-worded massage soon paid off, forcing Ely to back down on his threat to consider the neutral ballots. What is remarkable in this show-down is not only that the opposition came out victorious, confident and speaking with a one voice but also that the CMJD proved weaker than expected. We ended up with an opposition united around a single goal and able to pick itself off the ground and a toothless ruling military body unable to go ahead with its familiar all-or-nothing style.

On the other hand, the story of Sedioca is making the headlines on the leading national newspapers. Until this point in the electoral run up, Sedioca has staked his future leadership of the country on president Ely's backing. He kept a low profile presence, preferring behind-the scenes lobbying to the risks involved in going public and talking to the media. Not anymore. Sedioca is now on a mission to remake himself and is set to demark himself from the CMJD. In his press conference three days ago, he kick started his mission by crossing the first of the red lines set by Ely, i.e. relations with Israel. And without going as far as demanding cutting those relations, he said in that it's up to Mauritanian people and not the government to keep or to cut ties with Israel. What is new in this development is that we're now facing a Sedioca who is ready to do without the CMJD, and embark on a rebranding course on his own. All the best Sedioca.

Is this new political realignments indicative of new era in Mauritanian politics, where the contenders stake their hopes of winning on public support instead of that of the government? Still early to hazard a guess. But with the CMJD apparently taking a hands-off attitude and content with the backseat, the major players are now aware that they have to shoulder the burden by themselves. A challenge which Sedioca and his discontents can't meet unless they are ready to throw themselves, heart and soul, into the electoral campaign, without appealing to or antagonizing the military. Period.

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