National Vanguard Party
Encyclopedia
The National Vanguard Party (Arabic
: al-Talia al-Watania, French
: Parti Avant-Garde, abbreviated PAG), a branch of the Baghdad-based Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party (Arab: حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي, Latinised: Hizb al-Baath al-Arabi al-ishtiraki), is a ba'athist
regional organisation founded in 1991.
. The Mauritanian Ba'ath Party remains the largest arab nationalist political force in the country. The branch has maintained good relations with the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party even after Saddam Hussein
's downfall following the United States invasion of Iraq. The party was able to field candidates for seats in parliament during the 1992 parliamentary elections
, and was the only party, with the exception of the Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal
, to field candidates for the Senate elections. However, the party secured only 1 percent of the vote nationwide, and did not secure a seat in neither parliament nor senate. Kabry Ould Taleb Jiddou, the party's leader, was rewarded the office of Secretary of State by the newly-elected government because of his electoral campaign.
The branch supports full arabisation of the country, a view considering by many as rascist. Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla
, the President of Mauritania, introduced a anti-ba'athist policy when in power. This policy was continued under his successor Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya
. However, it should be noted that the Mauritanian government supported Iraq during the Gulf War
. Iraq–Mauritania relations were so close that rumours circulated international that Saddam's family had taken refugee in the country following the American invasion, this proved to be false. The repression against the ba'athist has not been reduced, and in 2003, several ba'athists were jailed on suspicion on trying to overthrow the government. A reason for the close relations between the two countries, was the strength of the mauritanian ba'athist party. The party was banned in 1999, following the restoration of bilateral relations with Israel
. The National Vanguard Party was accused of developing plans in collaborations with the Iraqi government foment unrest within the country.
Mohamed Ould Abdellahi Ould Eyye, the party's leader, was arrested in 2003 following a large anti-government protest which demanded the government to break it's relations with Israel and the United States, and help Saddam. Rafi, along with 13 other ba'athists, was arrested by government forces, and the party's headquarter were raided in May.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: al-Talia al-Watania, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Parti Avant-Garde, abbreviated PAG), a branch of the Baghdad-based Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party (Arab: حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي, Latinised: Hizb al-Baath al-Arabi al-ishtiraki), is a ba'athist
Ba'athism
Ba'athism is an Arab nationalist ideology that promotes the development and creation of an Arab nation through the leadership of a vanguard party over a progressive revolutionary state. The ideology is officially based on the theories of Zaki al-Arsuzi , Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar...
regional organisation founded in 1991.
History
The Mauritarian branch of the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party was founded in 1991, during the Gulf crisisGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. The Mauritanian Ba'ath Party remains the largest arab nationalist political force in the country. The branch has maintained good relations with the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party even after Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's downfall following the United States invasion of Iraq. The party was able to field candidates for seats in parliament during the 1992 parliamentary elections
Mauritanian parliamentary election, 1992
Parliamentary elections were held in Mauritania on 6 March 1992, with a second round on 13 March. They were the first National Assembly elections after the constitutional referendum the previous year that resulted in the reintroduction of multi-party democracy. The result was a victory for the...
, and was the only party, with the exception of the Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal
Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal
The Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal is a political party in Mauritania. Formerly known as the Democratic and Social Republican Party , , the grouping has changed its identity and adjusted its political stance following the 2005 coup...
, to field candidates for the Senate elections. However, the party secured only 1 percent of the vote nationwide, and did not secure a seat in neither parliament nor senate. Kabry Ould Taleb Jiddou, the party's leader, was rewarded the office of Secretary of State by the newly-elected government because of his electoral campaign.
The branch supports full arabisation of the country, a view considering by many as rascist. Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla
Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla
Ret. Col. Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidallah was the head of state of Mauritania from 4 January 1980 to 12 December 1984...
, the President of Mauritania, introduced a anti-ba'athist policy when in power. This policy was continued under his successor Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya
Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya
Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya , was Prime Minister of Mauritania from 1981 to 1984 and president from 1984 to 2005. He guided Mauritania from military rule to democracy, and took a pro-Western stance in foreign affairs...
. However, it should be noted that the Mauritanian government supported Iraq during the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Iraq–Mauritania relations were so close that rumours circulated international that Saddam's family had taken refugee in the country following the American invasion, this proved to be false. The repression against the ba'athist has not been reduced, and in 2003, several ba'athists were jailed on suspicion on trying to overthrow the government. A reason for the close relations between the two countries, was the strength of the mauritanian ba'athist party. The party was banned in 1999, following the restoration of bilateral relations with Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The National Vanguard Party was accused of developing plans in collaborations with the Iraqi government foment unrest within the country.
Mohamed Ould Abdellahi Ould Eyye, the party's leader, was arrested in 2003 following a large anti-government protest which demanded the government to break it's relations with Israel and the United States, and help Saddam. Rafi, along with 13 other ba'athists, was arrested by government forces, and the party's headquarter were raided in May.