§ Lord Merrivaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the summit of the Organisation of African Unity in July, (a) what mediatory initiatives have been taken by the Chairman, President Mubarak, and the newly-created seven-country Inter-African Commission (including Nigeria and Zimbabwe) to ease the tension between Senegal and Mauritania; and (b) what support they are giving towards this end.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Brabazon of Tara)The Chairman of1396WA the Organisation of African Unity, assisted by a five-nation African ministerial committee, is playing an active mediatory role in the dispute between Senegal and Mauritania. This has included visits by President Mubarak to both countries.
We have, together with our European Community partners, made known to the Governments of Senegal and Mauritania, and to the Organisation of African Unity, that we fully support President Mubarak's mediation efforts and wish to see the dispute resolve peacefully. We have also provided emergency humanitarian assistance, both bilaterally and through the European Community.