Rally of Democratic Forces
Encyclopedia
The Rally of Democratic Forces (Regroupement des Forces Démocratiques) is a political party
in Mauritania
. It is led by Ahmed Ould Daddah
.
In October 2000, the Union of Democratic Forces-New Era, which was led by Daddah, was dissolved by the government for allegedly inciting violence and harming the country's interests. In its place the Rally of Democratic Forces was established, and Daddah was elected its President in January 2002.
In the parliamentary election
held on October 19 and 26 October 2001, the party won 5.6% of the popular vote and 3 out of 81 seats.
Daddah declared the RFD to be "the country's biggest political force" after the first round of the 2006 Mauritanian parliamentary election
, held on 19 November. The RFD participated in this election as part of an eight party opposition alliance.. It won 15 out of 95 seats in the 21 January and 4 February 2007 Senate
elections
7 out of 56 seats. In the 11 March and 25 March 2007 presidential election
, Daddah, the party's candidate, won 20.69 % in the first round, but was defeated in the second round with 47.15%.
Daddah said on May 7, 2008 that the RFD would not participate in the government of Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef
, despite Waghef's consultations with opposition parties regarding the formation of a government.
The RFD supported the military coup d'état
of August 6, 2008. Daddah described the coup as "a movement to rectify the democratic process" and alleged that the 2007 presidential election was "marked by fraud".
The RFD is an observer member of the Socialist International
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Mauritania
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...
. It is led by 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...
.
In October 2000, the Union of Democratic Forces-New Era, which was led by Daddah, was dissolved by the government for allegedly inciting violence and harming the country's interests. In its place the Rally of Democratic Forces was established, and Daddah was elected its President in January 2002.
In the parliamentary election
Mauritanian parliamentary election, 2001
Parliamentary elections were held in Mauritania on 19 and 26 October, 2001. The result was a landslide victory for President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya's Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal, who took 64 of the 81 seats....
held on October 19 and 26 October 2001, the party won 5.6% of the popular vote and 3 out of 81 seats.
Daddah declared the RFD to be "the country's biggest political force" after the first round of the 2006 Mauritanian parliamentary election
Mauritanian parliamentary election, 2006
Parliamentary and municipal elections in Mauritania occurred on 19 November and 3 December 2006. At least 28 political parties competed to comprise the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly; Islamist parties were banned, but many Islamists ran as independent candidates...
, held on 19 November. The RFD participated in this election as part of an eight party opposition alliance.. It won 15 out of 95 seats in the 21 January and 4 February 2007 Senate
Senate of Mauritania
The Parliament has two chambers. The upper house is the Senate . The Senate has 56 members, 53 members elected for a six year term by municipal councillors with one third renewed every two years and 3 members elected by Mauritanians abroad.-See also:*List of Presidents of the Senate of Mauritania...
elections
Mauritanian Senate election, 2007
Senatorial elections were held in Mauritania on 21 January 2007 and on 4 February 2007. There are 56 seats in the Senate. The senators were elected by 3,688 municipal councillors, except for three who were chosen by the elected senators.The period for the deposit of candidacies ran from 12...
7 out of 56 seats. In the 11 March and 25 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...
, Daddah, the party's candidate, won 20.69 % in the first round, but was defeated in the second round with 47.15%.
Daddah said on May 7, 2008 that the RFD 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...
, despite Waghef's consultations with opposition parties regarding the formation of a government.
The RFD supported the military coup d'état
2008 Mauritanian coup d'état
A coup d'état took place in Mauritania on 6 August 2008 when Mauritanian President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was ousted from power by a group of high ranking generals he had dismissed from office earlier that day.-Background:...
of August 6, 2008. Daddah described the coup as "a movement to rectify the democratic process" and alleged that the 2007 presidential election was "marked by fraud".
The RFD is an observer member of the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
.