Secretary-General urges Mauritanian parties to restore constitutional order

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on parties in Mauritania to forge a consensus on how to return the country, which was rocked by a coup d’état last August, to constitutional order, including setting a date for presidential elections.

Internationally-mediated negotiations are currently underway in Dakar, Senegal, and Mr. Ban “believes time is of the essence for reaching an agreement,” according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Mauritanian President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallah, who was elected after multi-party democratic elections in 2007, was overthrown by the country’s military in a move that was widely condemned, including by the Secretary-General and the United Nations Security Council.

Mr. Ban today also called on the Mauritanian parties to “cooperate urgently” with the African Union (AU) Facilitation, the UN and the International Contact Group.