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Let's take a moment to discuss this complex and often overlooked relationship that has a detrimental impact on the lives of Mauritanians.
The Mauritanian oligarchy, a recently established structure, is the rotten fruit of a failed democratic and social construction. A latent fratricidal and regional war served as the catalyst for its emergence.
Sometimes, the first misstep is already one too many...
Without wanting to endlessly dwell on the same subjects, it is true that the only major misstep of the late President Mokhtar Ould Daddah's presidency was undoubtedly Mauritania's participation in the Western Sahara War.
This weighty decision, with a purely selfish interpretation of its consequences, would ultimately endorse the enduring reign of military power in Mauritania.
Military coercion as a political and social weapon.
Military coups were commonplace in Africa and other regions of the world during the 1970s, including Ghana, Congo, Uganda, Benin, Morocco, Rwanda, Niger, Ethiopia, Comoros, and others.
This ignominious series of military coups occurred under the shadow of a previously immutable Western political principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
The yo-yo of principles in diplomacy.
This principle of non-interference implicitly authorized the actors who held the upper hand in the balance of power to act with impunity against the interests of the people.
In Africa, military force prevailed over ideological power.
These newly established actors now had the time to strengthen the foundations of their power. A few decades later, major powers, citing the abuses committed in connection with this principle, would replace it with another principle: the responsibility to protect.
Mutation: From pillage to business.
As seen in the La Baule Summit, where African dictators were asked, in essence, to fall in line by accepting good governance, which means considering the future of the populations they were entrusted with, allowing them to express themselves and choose their representatives.
Current African presidents are well aware that they will have to undergo another transition, one that can legitimize the preservation of their financial gains.
Because the demand from their partners and donors now focuses on political alternation.
Distinguishing between things.
The modern and thoroughly capitalist status of a "billionaire" is a new level that has emerged in Mauritania's wealth hierarchy.
Before that, we had wealthy traders who knew how to evolve with time and society by adapting and diversifying their sectors of activity.
Mauritanians are few in number and inevitably interconnected, so the origins of our traders' wealth had never raised doubts or suspicions.
However, this is not the case for our new millionaires and billionaires.
Starting from scratch.
Due to the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and other illegal activities that have been prevalent in the region for several years, we demand transparency in the economic and financial activities of major Mauritanian companies.
We also hope that the Mauritanian fiscal institution will closely examine the rapid accumulation of wealth by individuals.
Mauritanians with foreign accounts must declare them, as well as the nature of the activities that justify the reported income, which also requires state officials to do the same.
Land is another prime target for money launderers.
Therefore, it is necessary for land allocation lists to be made public, along with the chain of sales.
We must not leave any room for our chief corruptors to hide their money.
The struggle for the appropriation of ancestral lands is part of it since any projects that the Mauritanian state may have for them can be discussed and negotiated without disturbing local sensitivities."