Mauritanian opposition denies refusing UFP seat on dialogue commission
The opposition coalition's spokesman says it has taken no decision against the UFP joining its representation on the national dialogue commission.
The leader of Mauritania's democratic opposition coalition denied reports that the coalition had refused to include the Union of Progressive Forces (UFP) among its representatives on the commission supervising the national dialogue. He said the question of naming the coalition's members to the commission had not yet been addressed.
The reports, published by Sahara Medias, said the coalition had rejected a proposal to give the UFP a seat within its quota, despite efforts by the dialogue commission's head, Moussa Fall, to persuade it to accept. Sidi Ould El Kori, the coalition's spokesman, told Sahara Media on Sunday that the information was inaccurate and not based on decisions by the coalition's competent bodies.
El Kori said the coalition is still consulting the Democratic Opposition Institution to agree on who will represent the opposition on the commission. He added that positions on the coalition's representation and its participation in dialogue bodies can only be attributed to it through its official channels.
Why it mattersThe opposition coalition's choice of representatives for the national dialogue commission determines which parties, including the UFP, sit on the body overseeing the talks.