Berkley Center

This event featured Ibrahima Dia, the Mauritanian ambassador to the United States, in his first public appearance and fostered a discussion of Mauritania’s transition, its status as the Islamic world’s newest democracy, and how to bolster US engagement there. Dia personally witnessed the historic events and invited discussion on what the transition means to Mauritania and the region and how to bolster US engagement there.

This event was co-sponsored by the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the Maghreb Center.

Background
On April 19, 2007, Mauritania ushered in an era of democracy with the swearing-in of President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, in what some have referred to as the "gentle revolution." This had been preceded by a successful referendum in June 2006 to see if the people wanted to transition to democracy, following a "democratic" coup d'etat in summer 2005, which many outside observers felt would fail. Since that time, a series of unpredicted and remarkable changes have taken place, including new legislative measures to eradicate slavery and a call for the return of Mauritanians exiled during the tragic 1989 conflict with Senegal.