Press Release

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs
Chairs Election Observation Mission

She Congratulates Mauritanian People for Credible Election

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, traveled to Mauritania March 10 – 12 to lead the United States observation mission for the presidential election on March 11.

She met with Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, president of the transitional Military Council for Justice and Democracy, on the day of the election.  Accompanying her was Ambassador Charles H. Twining, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States in Mauritania.

During her stay in Mauritania, Mrs. Thomas-Greenfield led the numerous American teams deployed throughout the country to observe the conduct of the election.  Based on observations made by the Embassy teams and her contacts with election officials, she was able to report that the elections took place calmly and satisfactorily and that no major fraud was detected.

She congratulates the Mauritanian people, the government, and all  international partners who worked so hard to make the presidential election of March 11 a real exercise in democracy.

Nouakchott, March 12, 2007