Nouakchott protest Dakar's plan to exploit river

Senegal's declared intention to revive a project to develop a river bordering Mauritania has drawn sharp criticism from Nouakchott and set off a flurry of diplomatic activity amidst the departure of Mauritanians in Senegal, according to news reports. Mauritania objects to a declaration by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade the he will, unilaterally, exploit the Senegal River because the action would deny Mauritania of badly needed water. Wade's predecessor, Abdou Diouf, abandoned the project after Mauritania protested. Mauritania says the statutes of the Organisation for the Development of the Senegal River Valley dictate that members to this subregional body consult each other before making significant use of the river. Both countries, and Mali, are members of this organisation, know by its acronym, the OMVS. Terming Wade's declarations arrogant, Mauritania has advised its nations to leave Senegal for fear of deteriorating relations. Behind this decision, a human rights leader told IRIN on Monday, lies the still raw memories of the 1989 killings of Mauritanians and Senegalese in each others' capitals. Those killings were sparked by clashes along the border between Senegalese farmers and Mauritanian herders. About three weeks ago tension rose between Senegalese fishermen and Mauritanian border authorities along the river, Alioun Tine, the national executive secretary of the Senegalese human rights organisation, Raddho, told IRIN. On Monday, the BBC reported that Senegalese Prime Minister Moustapha Niasse had gone to Nouakchott for talks on the crisis. This follows a Senegalese government communiqué yesterday assuring Mauritanians their lives were safe and, Tine said, "some students have remained". King Mohamed VI of Morocco has offered to mediate if need be and appealed to both countries to exercise restraint. Morocco has close historic ties with both nations.