Rally of Democratic Forces explained

Rally of Democratic Forces
Native Name:تكتل القوى الديمقراطية
Rassemblement des forces démocratiques
Native Name Lang:ar,fr
President:Ahmed Ould Daddah
Headquarters:Ilôt K N° 120, Nouakchott
Predecessor:Union of Democratic Forces
Ideology:Social democracy
Position:Centre-left
International:Socialist International
Progressive Alliance
Colors: Black
Anthem:Rally of Democratic Forces (by Malouma)
Seats1 Title:National Assembly
Seats2 Title:Regional councils
Seats3 Title:Mayors
Country:Mauritania

The Rally of Democratic Forces (Arabic: تكتل القوى الديمقراطية|; French: Rassemblement des forces démocratiques, RFD), or Assembly of Democratic Forces, 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 Mauritanian 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.[1]

In the parliamentary election held on October 19 and 26 October 2001, the party won 5.6% of the popular vote and three 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.[2] It won 15 out of 95 seats, in the 21 January and 4 February 2007 Senate elections seven 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,[3] but was defeated in the second round with 47.15%.[4]

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 new government.[5]

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".[6]

The RFD is an observer member of the Socialist International.[7]

Electoral performance

National Assembly

National Assembly
ElectionParty leaderNational listSeats+/–Government
Votes%
2001Ahmed Ould Daddah 3
2006 13
2013 16
201819,2732.74% 3
202314,6481.51% 3

Notes and References

  1. http://www.unhcr.org/home/RSDCOI/42df613fb.html "Mauritania: Update to MRT39363.E of 25 September 2002 on the Union of Democratic Forces-New Era (Union des forces démocratiques-Ère nouvelle, UFD-EN) and its successor, the Rally of Democratic Forces (Rassemblement des forces démocratiques, RFD), including the treatment of its members by government authorities (2002-October 2004)"
  2. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1164101761672B256 "Mauritanian opposition leader claims victory"
  3. http://www.ami.mr/fr/articles/2007/mars/15/5.html "Le conseil constitutionnel proclame les résultats du premier tour de l'élection présidentielles du 11 mars 2007"
  4. http://www.ami.mr/fr/articles/2007/mars/29/9.html "Le Conseil constitutionnel proclame les résultats des élections présidentielles"
  5. http://www.ami.mr/fr/articles/2008/Mai/09/04.html "Le RFD décide de ne pas participer au futur gouvernement"
  6. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iibWvaLRMGXUCaUTIBFZd-UWnTUw "Mauritania coup leader in talks to form new government"
  7. http://www.socialistinternational.org/viewArticle.cfm?ArticleID=1578 "Socialist International welcomes release of Mauritanian opposition leader"