Ibrahima Moctar Sarr
Encyclopedia
Ibrahima Moctar Sarr is a Mauritania
n journalist
and politician
. Running as an independent, he placed fifth in the March 2007 presidential election
, and he has been the President of the Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal
(AJD/MR) since August 2007.
After studying in Cesti
, Senegal
, Sarr trained as a teacher
before working in insurance
. He became politically active in 1972, being a co-founder member of the Mauritanian Workers Party. Increasingly active as a journalist
, he appeared regularly on radio and television. In 1983 he was a co-founder of the Forces of African Liberation of Mauritania (FLAM), and in 1986 he was a communication specialist with FLAM when they published the second edition of the Manifesto of the oppressed black Mauritanian
. Following this anti-racist publication, which highlighted racial and discriminatory practices by the Mauritanian government, many black leaders were arrested and thrown to jail. Ibrahima Sarr was sentenced to four years in jail.
In 1989, after being released from jail, Sarr resigned from FLAM and ceased his political activities until the democratization process was started in 1992 by President Taya. Sarr then joined the Popular Progressive Alliance (APP) under Messaoud Ould Boulkheir
, becoming a leading member of the party. He later left the APP.
Sarr stood in the March 2007 presidential election on an anti-racist platform. In order to facilitate his candidacy, he founded the "Movement for National Reconciliation", although he stood as an independent
. Claiming that "I am the candidate of the oppressed", he called for equal rights
for Pulaar
, Soninké and Wolof
people alongside Moors
, and the return of Mauritanian refugee
s from Senegal
. Sarr came in fifth place with 7.95% of the vote in the election, and he backed Ahmed Ould Daddah
for the second round.
Sarr's Movement for National Reconciliation subsequently merged with the Alliance for Justice and Democracy (AJD), and at an extraordinary congress to ratify the merger on August 18–19, Sarr was elected as the leader of the new party, the AJD/MR.
Sarr said on May 10, 2008 that the AJD/MR would not participate in the government of Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef
due to policy differences.
Following the August 2008 military coup, Sarr and the AJD/MR expressed support for the military junta, and Sarr announced on April 11, 2009, that he would be a candidate in the controversial June 2009 presidential election
, which was being organized by the junta and which opposition parties were planning to boycott. Sarr said that "the conditions are there for a free poll" and that Mauritania did not have democracy under Abdallahi's presidency. The Constitutional Court approved four candidacies, including Sarr's, on April 28.
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
n journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Running as an independent, he placed fifth in the March 2007 presidential election
Mauritanian presidential election, 2007
A Mauritanian presidential election occurred on 11 March 2007. Since no candidate received a majority of the votes, a second round was held on 25 March between the top two candidates, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Ahmed Ould Daddah...
, and he has been the President of the Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal
Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal
The Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal is a political party in Mauritania...
(AJD/MR) since August 2007.
After studying in Cesti
Cesti
Cesti can refer to:*Antonio Cesti, Italian Baroque composer*Cestus, a Classical weapon...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, Sarr trained as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
before working in insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
. He became politically active in 1972, being a co-founder member of the Mauritanian Workers Party. Increasingly active as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, he appeared regularly on radio and television. In 1983 he was a co-founder of the Forces of African Liberation of Mauritania (FLAM), and in 1986 he was a communication specialist with FLAM when they published the second edition of the Manifesto of the oppressed black Mauritanian
Manifesto of the Oppressed Black Mauritanian
The Manifesto of the Oppressed Black Mauritanian was published in April, 1986 by the African Liberation Forces of Mauritania, a paramilitary group which promoted the rights of the oppressed Black African majority by Arabo-Berber minority in Mauritania. The manifesto details the racial...
. Following this anti-racist publication, which highlighted racial and discriminatory practices by the Mauritanian government, many black leaders were arrested and thrown to jail. Ibrahima Sarr was sentenced to four years in jail.
In 1989, after being released from jail, Sarr resigned from FLAM and ceased his political activities until the democratization process was started in 1992 by President Taya. Sarr then joined the Popular Progressive Alliance (APP) under Messaoud Ould Boulkheir
Messaoud Ould Boulkheir
Messaoud Ould Boulkheir is among the first Haratine to become a political leader in Mauritania. Messaoud also contributed significantly to the end of the 1989 events in Mauritania, protecting the right of the victims and the emancipation of the Haratine in Mauritania with his party.Presently,...
, becoming a leading member of the party. He later left the APP.
Sarr stood in the March 2007 presidential election on an anti-racist platform. In order to facilitate his candidacy, he founded the "Movement for National Reconciliation", although he stood as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. Claiming that "I am the candidate of the oppressed", he called for equal rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
for Pulaar
Pulaar
Pulaar is a Fula language spoken primarily as a first language by Fula people and Tukolor in the Senegal River valley area traditionally known as Futa Tooro, and further south and east...
, Soninké and Wolof
Wolof people
The Wolof are an ethnic group found in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania.In Senegal, the Wolof form an ethnic plurality with about 43.3% of the population are Wolofs...
people alongside Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
, and the return of Mauritanian refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s from Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. Sarr came in fifth place with 7.95% of the vote in the election, and he backed Ahmed Ould Daddah
Ahmed Ould Daddah
Ahmed Ould Daddah is a Mauritanian economist, politician and civil servant. He is a half-brother of Moktar Ould Daddah, the first President of Mauritania, and belongs to the Marabout Ouled Birri tribe...
for the second round.
Sarr's Movement for National Reconciliation subsequently merged with the Alliance for Justice and Democracy (AJD), and at an extraordinary congress to ratify the merger on August 18–19, Sarr was elected as the leader of the new party, the AJD/MR.
Sarr said on May 10, 2008 that the AJD/MR would not participate in the government of Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef
Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef
Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef is a Mauritanian politician. He was appointed as Prime Minister of Mauritania on May 6, 2008, serving until the August 2008 coup d'état. Waghef is also President of the National Pact for Democracy and Development , and he was Minister Secretary-General of the Presidency...
due to policy differences.
Following the August 2008 military coup, Sarr and the AJD/MR expressed support for the military junta, and Sarr announced on April 11, 2009, that he would be a candidate in the controversial June 2009 presidential election
Mauritanian presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in Mauritania on 18 July 2009. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led the 2008 coup d'état, won a narrow first-round majority in the election, according to official results...
, which was being organized by the junta and which opposition parties were planning to boycott. Sarr said that "the conditions are there for a free poll" and that Mauritania did not have democracy under Abdallahi's presidency. The Constitutional Court approved four candidacies, including Sarr's, on April 28.