Provisional results from historic legislative and municipal elections in Mauritania indicated on Thursday that opposition parties that had defied the country’s previous military regime had made a strong showing.

The Rally of Democratic Forces (RDF), which struggled against former military ruler Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, won 12 of 43 National Assembly seats in the 19 November polls. Sixty-three percent of municipal posts went to opposition parties, mainly in urban areas.

Other parties that opposed the Taya government won seven assembly seats. They include the Progressive Popular Alliance, which represents former slaves who say they remain marginalised. Slavery was formally abolished in Mauritania in 1981.

Mauritania follows in the footsteps of West African neighbours Mali, Niger and Nigeria in introducing elections as part of a transition to democracy after military officers ousted authoritarian regimes or took over after their leader died. Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall overthrew Taya in August 2005.

Taya had ruled Mauritania for more than 20 years and halfheartedly joined the continent’s democracy movement in the 1990s, tolerating political parties but only allowing dissent on his own terms, analysts say.

Military officers who participated in the 2005 coup were barred from contesting the elections. Presidential polls are to be held in March.

Uncertain outcome

A second round of voting for the National Assembly to choose 52 additional seats in 33 districts is to be held on 3 December. Observers said those polls could significantly alter the outcome of last week’s election because most of the districts are in rural areas that have significant support for Islamists and traditional leaders.

Independent candidates, including Islamists, tribal leaders and members of the former ruling party, made a strong showing in the first round of voting for the National Assembly, winning 24 seats.

“The weakness of parties, who were represented mainly in urban areas, compared with independents shows the importance of traditional forces,” said Mohamed Fall Ould Oumere, publisher of the Tribune newspaper.

Although Mauritania is officially an Islamic republic, Islamist parties and movements have been banned. Tensions persist among the country’s Moors, Arabs, Berbers and sub-Saharan African groups.

Voter enthusiasm

With the recent discovery of oil offshore, analysts say Mauritanians have higher expectations that their newly elected leaders will improve development in the impoverished, arid country.

In a referendum in June that was marked by high turnout, Mauritanians approved a new constitution that put a two-term limit on any future president. Last August, the government passed an ordinance stipulating that women represent 20 percent of National Assembly members. Eight seats went to women in last week’s vote.

Turnout for the polls was estimated at 75 percent.

“The turnout, which was higher than anticipated, is an indication of the genuine demand for democracy,” said the Tribune’s Oumere. “The aspiration of Mauritanians for peaceful, civil change has manifested itself.”

A broad section of Mauritania’s political class hailed the elections.

“We have seen that this poll was organised in the best conditions that we have seen in a long time and there was neutrality of the administration and a great measure of transparency,” said Ahmed Ould Daddah, presidential candidate and leader of the RDF.

About 200 foreign observers witnessed the voting and generally considered the polls to be free and fair despite some administrative and technical problems.

“The elections constitute a supplementary stage towards the end of the transition,” said the European Union observer mission in a statement. “They were carried out in calm and in a climate of freedom.”