Pro-reform demo held in Mauritania

Press TV

Hundreds of pro-reform protesters have demonstrated in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, demanding political and social reforms in the African country.

Monday’s demonstration was organized by the February 25 youth movement, which has been organizing sit-ins and protests using the social networking site Facebook since January 2011.

The campaign started off small, with simple interactions between disgruntled young Mauritanians on Facebook, but over the past few months it has spread across the country.

The protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Moulay Ould Mohamed Laghdaf and called for a national coalition government made up of technocrats.

They also want the Senate dismissed and the minimum wage increased to 73,000 Ouguiyas (around $269) per month.

In February, the government announced the launch of a program to distribute parcels of land to benefit some 110,000 poor people living in Nouakchott.

Prime Minister Laghdaf also said the government would try to aid the local economy by creating 1,700 jobs, increasing food production, and creating a new infrastructure.

Monday’s protests came despite what some analysts saw as an emerging political dialogue, with the Interior Ministry calling on the youth movement to submit its demands and appoint a representative with whom the government can negotiate.

The civilian government of Mauritania was overthrown on August 6, 2008 in a military coup d’état led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. In April 2009, General Aziz resigned from the military to run for president in the July elections, which he won.

About 20 percent of the 3.3 million people of Mauritania currently live on less than $1.25 per day.

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