During a rally in Keïdi, the President of the Republic calls for strengthening the bonds of citizenship and placing them above all else

His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, emphasised on Sunday evening, during a mass rally in the city of Kheïdi, the need to strengthen the bond of citizenship and to place it above all else in terms of importance and consideration, stressing that building the nation and achieving the aspirations of the people begins with this national commitment.

His Excellency added that Mauritania is today a safe and stable country, and that state institutions are functioning regularly, calling on citizens to preserve this stability through their national unity, which is the bulwark against all challenges, the foundation of political and social stability, and the first condition for the country’s development and prosperity.

The following is the text of the President’s speech:

 

“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Peace and blessings be upon the most honourable of messengers.

I am truly pleased and delighted to be among you today in this beautiful province with its rich history.

I would have liked to address you in Pulaar or Soninke, but unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to learn our national languages.

I will spare no effort to ensure that all Mauritanians will be able to communicate with each other in the future, regardless of the national language used.

Today’s speech will be accompanied by translation.

 

Today, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for your warm welcome, your genuine hospitality and this remarkable gathering. This large crowd is a microcosm of our beloved country.

Before me, I see representatives of all segments of our society, with all its diverse cultural characteristics, united by strong national ties, a shared religious identity, and a common history and future.

This is the image we are working to consolidate throughout the country: an image of a cohesive, united people who believe in their ability to build a homeland that provides for all, in a spirit of democracy, justice, decent living conditions, growth and prosperity.

I have come to you today, not in the context of an election or in response to a crisis or emergency, but to communicate directly with you, discuss the general situation in the country, learn first-hand about your circumstances and problems, and listen to your views on the challenges facing your province and the country as a whole.

Today, you are all aware of the many and varied crises the world is going through: Security, economic and environmental. Among the most prominent repercussions of this tense international situation on our immediate regional environment is the spread of conflicts, terrorism and armed violence, which undermine security, stability and development. However, our country has been able to maintain its security and stability, by the grace of God and His power, and by relying on the awareness of our citizens, the vigilance of our armed and security forces, and our sound management of security issues.

Today, our country is secure and stable, and its institutions are functioning regularly. This is a great blessing for which we thank God, and we must preserve it through vigilance and continuous work.

One of the most important factors protecting this security and stability is our national unity, which is our stronghold against all challenges, the foundation of our political and social stability, and the first condition for our development and prosperity.

 

In order to strengthen this unity, we have worked from the outset to calm the political arena by removing the tension, conflict, discord and hostility that had characterised it for many years and had a negative impact on social life in general. To this end, we have adopted an approach of openness and consultation with all parties, held meetings with various stakeholders, and launched a preparatory process, which is nearing completion, to hold a comprehensive dialogue to build a national consensus on major national issues.

What unites us is much deeper and stronger than what we may disagree on. Our differences are mostly differences of opinion, not of purpose. We all want a united, stable and advanced Mauritania, where justice, freedom and equality prevail.

To achieve this goal, we have worked, among other things, to: promote the values of solidarity, justice and brotherhood; combat poverty, vulnerability and exclusion; reform the justice system, fight corruption and strengthen the rule of law; consolidate the republican school system; expand the provision and development of basic services such as water, electricity and health; developing our productive sectors, such as agriculture and livestock; promoting the private sector; and developing infrastructure to support growth.

All of this has enabled us to achieve significant economic growth, ranging from 4.5% to 6% over the past six years, while maintaining major economic balances and controlling inflation.

Your province plays a key role in our economic revival efforts, given its significant agricultural and livestock resources, which make it one of the pillars of our food sovereignty.

 

We have worked to promote this role by building dams, digging canals, reclaiming land, improving animal health, breaking isolation, and providing water, electricity, education and health care.

During the provincial meetings, the members of the delegation will return, each in their own field, to detail what has been achieved, what is in progress, and what is planned at various levels.

The goal of all our political, developmental, and social efforts has been to strengthen our social cohesion and enhance our national unity.

I would like to touch briefly on the concept of national unity.

We are a diverse people who see our different languages, cultural heritage and traditions as a treasure that we strive to preserve and promote. In this sense, diversity is an inherent and non-negotiable right, but it does not give rise to any other right. All rights are exclusively granted on the basis of citizenship.

Even if we adopt positive discrimination for a particular group, it is discrimination granted on the basis of citizenship, in support of citizens who are in a situation that requires special support and has nothing to do with a particular component.

If we were to comprehensively and consistently arrange rights according to difference, so that a certain right is granted to one group because it is different, and another right to another group because it is different, we would be exposing ourselves to three risks:

1– We have transformed from a diverse people, united by a common national identity, into mere groups vying for rights and shirking duties.

2 – Our national unity no longer has any meaning or real impact.

3 – Our state has lost any real chance of survival and sustainability.

The only thing that can protect us from these three dangers, which I have outlined, is the bond of citizenship, which I have called on you to strengthen, reinforce and elevate above all other bonds on numerous occasions. The foundation of the modern state and the essence of national unity is the bond of citizenship.

What I mean by strengthening this bond is to consolidate our attachment to this land, reinforce our commitment to living together on it, and intensify our efforts to develop and advance it within a framework of equal rights and duties.

I have spared no effort to strengthen this bond, consolidate our national unity and social cohesion, and thus we have worked to change mindsets and overcome outdated behaviours; combat prejudices, stereotypes and destructive sectarian and tribalism; reduce social and economic disparities and break down class barriers.

Working on these various levels has enabled us to achieve many accomplishments that have reinforced the cumulative gains of successive generations throughout our country’s history.

Like the history of all peoples, our country’s history is full of bright pages, but it also has some passages that we wish had never been written.

 

Human life, by its very nature, has its good points and its flaws. Every social or regional group has hurt or been hurt by another, and every group has either suffered injustice or committed it itself, either against another group or against some of its own members. However, the strength of peoples is measured by their ability to acknowledge their history, its entire history, and by its courage in overcoming its difficult moments in order to continue to promote and strengthen coexistence.

How many peoples have experienced profound tragedies and unspeakable atrocities, yet have risen above them, overcome them, and continued to build, progress and develop.

There is no hope for a people who are content to remain captive to a particular moment in their history, no matter how painful it may be.

The time has come for our people to courageously shoulder their responsibility towards their history, their entire history, and to muster the will and determination to build a shared, bright and prosperous future.

Therefore, I reiterate the need to strengthen the bond of citizenship and to give it priority and consideration above all else.

This is how nations are built and the aspirations of peoples are realised.

Thank you, and may the peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.