Does anyone care that the democracy in Mauritania was disposed in a coup?

Question

The media doesn't seem to pay attention to Africa - but this Democracy has just been overthrown!

http://www.theweekdaily.com/article/index/87853/3/3/Mauritania’s_quiet_coup

Answer 1

Well, the Mauritanians might.  

Answer 2

I care, it's just not our job to do anything about it.

Answer 3

Of course the world should care.  Even if ousted President Abdellahi wasn't doing a a great job, there's no need to overthrow him--sounds like General Abdelaziz was getting revenge for being fired.

Judging from various articles I read, it sounds like the main complaint about him was the rising food prices, since Mauritania has to import most of its food.  Yet, blaming the President for rising food prices is unfair, because food prices are rising all over the world.

President Abdellahi has only been in office since April, 2007.  It is not possible to to completely solve every problem in a country in a year.  Yet, the National Assembly of Mauritania was filing a motion of "no confidence" in President Abdellahi in July.  And the President threatened them back.  Sounds like the kind of fighting we have at the national level here in the USA: often, the president blames the Congress when things don't go his way, and some Congress members threaten impeachment of the President when they lose confidence in him.

I say, why not let the President do his job, and if he fails, either impeach him, or don't elect him next time.  Staging a coup is so 20th century!

Also, it doesn't surprise me that the USA is against the coup--no doubt it's for political reasons: President Abdellahi had diplomatic relations with Israel, which is rare for an Islamic state.

Answer 4

According to the article you attached it was pretty much a sham democracy to start with.  The military ran the country behind the scenes.  

These military officers who overthrew the democratically elected president are the same guys who overthrew the government in 2005.  So perhaps they will have elections again like they did in the past.  Lots of countries have militaries that occasionally step in and get rid of a leader.  Thailand and Turkey are two examples.

Answer 5

I saw the story yesterday and I care.  Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing I can do about it!  Any more than I can do anything about the military junta in Myanmar or Mugabe in Zimbabwe.  But look at how long it took the news media to finally get the story about Darfur!  

Answer 6

No, no one cares.

Wasn't the Mauretania a ship?