A.U. Suspends Mauritania

ANCHOR:
In Africa, the nation of Mauritania is facing an uncertain future after a military coup last week. Coup leaders have promised a return to democracy, but now the African Union says it will suspend the nation until democracy is restored. Here's more:

STORY:
The African Union (A.U.) chair Tanzania said on Saturday that the A.U. will suspend Mauritania until democracy is restored.

It comes after soldiers overthrew the country's first democractically elected president on Wednesday.

An Arab League team met the coup leader on Saturday. And one Arab League official said he had been given assurances of a return to democracy, but not a date for elections.

[Ahmed Ben Hilli, Arab League Asst. Sec. Gen. for Pol. Affairs]:
"He assured me that democracy will continue and will take root. The democratic state will continue and he assured me that the interest of Mauritania lies in having a democratic voice and that the parties, the national assembly, the senate, continue their work and that there will be a government."

The country's new leaders said on Friday (August 8) they would appoint a new government to run the country until new elections.

But condemnation of the coup has been widespread and Washington has frozen all non-humanitarian aid to the country, which is also one of the continent's newest oil producers.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• africa
• mauritania
• military
• coup
• democracy
• A.U.