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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Mauritania
Index
In the years following independence, Mauritania's principal
friend in sub-Saharan Africa was Senegal, although the two
countries have espoused different strategies for development. The
growing split between blacks and Maures in Mauritania has,
however, affected ties with Senegal, which sees itself as
championing the rights of Mauritania's black minority. Under
Taya, relations between the two countries were correct, even
though each accused the other of harboring exiled dissidents. In
May 1987, Senegal extradited Captain Moulaye Asham Ould Ashen, a
former black member of the Haidalla government accused of
corruption, but only after veiled threats from Nouakchott that
failure to do so would result in Mauritania's allowing Senegalese
dissidents a platform from which to speak out against the
government of President Abdou Diouf. At the same time, Senegal
and Mauritania have cooperated successfully with Mali under the
Senegal River Development Office (Organisation pour la Mise en
Valeur du Fleuve Sénégal--OMVS), which was formed in 1972 as a
flood control, irrigation, and agricultural development project.
Since Mauritania negotiated a boundary dispute with Mali in
1963, ties between the two countries have been most cordial. Mali
and Mauritania have cooperated on several development projects,
such as the OMVS and a plan to improve roads between Nouakchott
and Bamako. This cooperation somewhat lessened Mali's dependence
on Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. Although relations were warm with
other black African states, since 1965 the orientation of
Mauritania's foreign policy has been northward.
Data as of June 1988
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