Press Release

Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte Attends Inauguration

Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte made a two-day visit to Mauritania from April 18 – 19, 2007.  He was accompanied by Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, General William E. Ward, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, and Bobby J. Pittman, Jr., Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs. 

During the visit, the delegation represented the President of the United States at the inauguration ceremony of President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, which took place at the Palais des Congrès in Nouakchott on April 19.

Before the inauguration, Mr. Negroponte met with the new president to congratulate him and the Mauritanian people on the historic series of orderly and credible elections that culminated in the important step of a democratically elected president.  They discussed ways of expanding bilateral cooperation in the areas of food security, health, education, border security and counterterrorism. 

The Deputy Secretary also met with outgoing Head of State Ely Ould Mohamed Vall and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ahmed Ould Sid’Ahmed.

The United States is proud to have been able to support the democratic transition in Mauritania with election-related assistance for voter education, political party training and democracy-building.  The United States government hopes to work with the Mauritanian government with the goal of having Mauritania qualify for the Millennium Challenge threshold program in the near future and eventually for full compact eligibility.

Nouakchott, April 19, 2007