MAURITANIA
Former diplomat, President Obama and civil rights movement expert Sheldon Austin visited Mauritania from March 27th through March 31st and met with various actors to highlight the historical importance of the first African American President and encourage dialogue between local constituents.
During his time in Nouakchott, he had the opportunity to meet with civil society, political and religious leaders, English students and the public at large during various informal encounters, power point presentations and roundtable discussions.
He spoke of the dream of Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, the civil rights movement and its ostensible culmination in the election of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. With civil society leaders he discussed grassroots organizing and the use of the internet in the Obama campaign as well as new media and strategies for community mobilization.
He spoke of the role of non-violent civil disobedience and its historical roots in America and Ghandi. Each encounter provided a new opportunity to speak of the democratic process, the peaceful transition of power and inviolable pact between a voter and his/her elected representatives.
Audiences responded excellently, with fruitful and lively discussion following each encounter, many asking for copies of the presentations to further disseminate and study. Post thanks ARS for helping to organize this tour, which came at a crucial time in Mauritanian history.