University students in Mauritania say they feel disillusioned with democracy, one year after a series of elections ended years of military-dominated rule. They say it seems corruption, insecurity and their prospects for a better life are getting worse, not better, even though they now have a government representative of the people’s will. VOA’s Nico Colombant has more with reporting by Ebrima Sillah, in this the fifth and last part of a series on life in post-election Mauritania.
Students complain democracy seems to change little for the better
One student, Ahmed, says this is his first chance to express his views on the elected government of President Ould Sidi Mohamed Cheikh Abadallahi.
He did not mince his words. And he said if others had a chance to speak their mind, they would share similar thoughts.
“The reality, there is no one if you ask him in his daily life, in his normal situation, he will say everything is worse,” he said. “In fact in the last decade, we had security. But these days, things are going worse, because there is no security, the prices are going up, everything is higher here. The life is very hard. You cannot imagine.”
Long-time ruler Maaouiya Ould Taya was deposed in a military coup in 2005. He was replaced by Ely Ould Mohammed Vall, until the military leader handed over power to the elected President Abadallahi.
Ahmed says he has been disappointed by all leaders, but was hoping an elected one would be better.
“I think the problem is the leader. M
المزيد
