Mauritanian Head of State, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Tuesday emphasised the importance of pluralism and diversity of opinions in the public media, said an official statement issued Wednesday.
Speaking during the first meeting of the cabinet formed Sunday, Aziz declared that “ensuring the plural expression of views in the public media was an essentialcomponent of the general principles that govern citizens’ fair access to public service.”
He also underscored the importance which must be given to the “reconciliation between the administration and citizens and compliance with transparency and good governance principles.”
Mauritania has been, since the 6 August coup, under the leadership of a junta which overthrew President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi who was democratically elected 25 March 2007 following a second ballot.
Following the coup, the state media, including the national radio and television station and Mauritanian News Agency (AMI), were strongly criticised for not covering the events in favour of the junta.
