Messaoud Ould Boulkheir - Political Parties and Achievements

Political Parties and Achievements

Beginning in 1962, Messaoud has started fighting against slavery and the emancipation of the Haratine in Mauritania. Messaoud in his fights again slavery was influenced by the inequality problems in the United States and South Africa. While Messaoud was preparing his Public Administration certificate, he met other Haratines at ENA (National School of Administration) who wanted to fight for their emancipation. In 1978, they created the secret organization “El HOR” which means Organization for the emancipation of Haratine. The creation of this party contributed a lot for the Haratines in Mauritania because a lot of Haratines joined the party. The party was protecting the right of the Haratine by creating small unit of agents in the organization who would stop the trade and the mistreating of the Haratines by the Beydhanes. EL-HOR created a revolution in the country which leads in 1981 to the abolition of slavery in Mauritania. EL HOR was growing and becoming very powerful that is why in 1989 it became officially recognize with Messaoud as leader. They were part of the municipal election in 1989 and they supported the negro-Africans during the 1989 civil war between the Beydhan and the negro-Africans. The government created a lot of problems for the EL HOR party by arresting and torturing its leaders, that is why in 1990 Messaoud created the FUDC (United democratic forces for change). He participated in the creation of UFD (United democratic forces) in 1992 which regrouped all political leaders (Beydhan, Haratine, and negro-Africans) but Messaoud left the party because the leader was a Beydhan. In 1995, he created his own party called AC (action for changes) which regrouped Haratine into a majority. AC was dissolved by the government because of the truth they were telling to the Mauritanians about the government and its membership growth because the Haratines compose about fifty percent of Mauritanian population. Messaoud ended by creating the People's Progressive Alliance (APP), his current political party.