Mauritania: Ruling party silent over normalization with Israel, expands presidential authority

The ruling Democratic Republican Party in Mauritania on Saturday night concluded its second conference without hinting at the normalization of relations with Israel and its political and local security consequences.

The party did not introduce important changes to the framework of its leadership, rather its leader, President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Tayaí was given wider authority. According to the new changes the chairman of the party, President Taya, can replace the conference in taking decisions that are under the authority of the conference.

The conference was held under strong security measures.

Observers in Nouakchott consider the conference's ignorance of a topic which is the preoccupation of the local public opinion and has its own Arab reflections on the country, as showing the party's unwillingness to raise an "unpopular issue," normalization with Israel.

The conference was held amid confrontations between policemen and the university students who were protesting against normalization in a series of acts of protest that has continued for two weeks.