President Sidi Mohamamed Oueld Sidi chikh : Mauritania is neither destination nor extension to terrorism

In an interview given to Echorouk, the Mauritanian president, Sidi Mohamamed Oueld Sidi chikh characterized the latest terrorists attacks on his soil as being “ isolated and limited” and declared in his interview that Mauritania was , as other countries, hit by terrorism which is a universal phenomenon.

 The Mauritanian president raised several issues including the cooperation between his country and Algeria in the fight against terrorism, the Western Sahara issue and the future of the Israeli-Mauritanian diplomatic ties as well as the comeback of Islamism.

Q: M president can we consider that Mauritania has become a new terrorist target in the Maghreb ?

R: Mauritania is neither another destination for terrorism, nor an extension to it in the region, but isolated acts were perpetrated that we cannot qualify as a “series”… The stress was on Mauritania because these terror attacks were unprecedented in a region known for its safety and its people for its tolerance. But terrorism grows a universal plague which doesn’t spare neither big nor small nations still; Mauritania remains one of the most secure countries.

Q: But don’t you think that social, political and religious tensions could feed terrorism?

R: We can differentiate between explanation of terrorism and justification, because many explanations are forms of justification. All forms of terrorism are condemnable and not justified and the tensions you have mentioned in your question exist in all societies and our share, thanks god, is small and has to be settled through dialogue as it is the case in our country. Violence is not the only solution as it is not the best in any case.

Q: In this respect, what is your own analysis as to the media uproar concerning the danger of terrorism in the Sub Saharan region and the threat of the so called “ Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb”?

R: we have to clarify the point; this region is not a terrorist threat and was spared by the crisis that blew the other parts of the continent over the last years, much has been done by the various countries to stand against any terrorist threat.

Q: How do you appreciate the cooperation between the countries and more specifically, Algeria as well as western countries, notably the United States ?

R: Our ties with Algeria go beyond this, both our countries are complementary and their cooperation touchy many fields including security matters, especially in the fight against illegal immigration and I have to admit that Algeria played a major role in the fight against terrorism.

Q: The Islamism in Mauritania was, for a long time, under control but came back with your coming into office, is there any limits set by your administration to take control over a rampant Islamism?

R: There is not in Mauritania such an Islamic party because our constitution forbids parties based upon religion in the sense that our people is hundred per cent Muslim.

Q: How do you deal with the campaign against the diplomatic ties with Israel and your proposal to submit the issue to the parliament?

R: We didn’t establish diplomatic ties with Israel but we inherited the situation, I have declared that we are going to deal with this issue in conformity with the Arab issues and in close collaboration with the Palestinians.

Q: How do you explain the prevailing stand by in the Maghreb ?

R: we are very sorry to the slow motion in the building of the Maghreb which is not a mere choice but a necessity that all people of the region are looking forward.

Q: In this respect, M president, where does Mauritania stand concerning Western Sahara ?

R: The Mauritanian stand is clear and respects the United Nations resolutions and its efforts to settle this issue.