Mauritania's Democratic Transition: A Regional Model for Political Reform?

Since August 2005, Mauritania has embarked on an ambitious revision process of its political system. This democracy-oriented process and the changes in Mauritanian public life were generated by a military coup, whose leaders sought to alter the country's political structures. These efforts have shifted widely held perceptions of Mauritania (as one of the world's poorest and most under-developed countries), indicating that the country may be on the verge of a significant transformation. The regime's aspirations culminated with Mauritania's first free, multi-candidate presidential elections in March 2007. The changes in Mauritania suggest that it could yet outpace its more developed North African neighbours in their efforts to initiate political reforms, and present a new regional model. This article probes the changes in Mauritania, and discusses the possibility of considering the country as a regional model that could affect broader reform currents within the Maghrib's political system. As most North African societies wrestle with the idea of political reform and its implementation, Mauritania's recent experiences offer lessons that could be of interest across the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]