In late November-on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Mauritania's independence-the president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, called on all of the country's political groups to engage in dialogue. The announcement is potentially significant because since the hotly disputed presidential poll in 2009 relations between the government and the opposition have been mired in deep hostility. With the notable exception of the Rassemblement des forces démocratique (RFD), which entered talks with the government in September (October 2010, The political scene), the main opposition coalition, Coordination de l'opposition démocratique (COD), has continued to contest the legitimacy of Mr Abdel Aziz's victory. The COD has hitherto refused to engage in talks with the regime except on the basis of the political accord that was signed in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, prior to the poll (July 2009, The political scene). The opposition claims that the president has reneged upon his commitments under the Dakar deal, thus rendering his regime illegitimate.

The president's invitation to dialogue pointedly did not specify if it would be on the basis of the Dakar accord, but the COD nonetheless welcomed Mr Abdel Aziz's newfound willingness to engage with the opposition. Although these overtures suggest that a breakthrough to the political deadlock may be within reach, there is a strong chance that talks will founder on the irreconcilable differences in interpretation of what the government's obligations are under the deal signed in Senegal. The main tenets of the Dakar accord provided for a transitional power-sharing government before the 2009 presidential election and even representation on the electoral commission. However, these conditions have been rendered irrelevant by the holding of the poll.

Yet, the opposition has argued that the government's non-fulfilment of these commitments prior to the election means that it is entitled to share power. Although the president has shown himself willing to co-opt elements of the opposition to his parliamentary majority, he has not countenanced explicit power-sharing in the form of ministerial positions or policy input. Nonetheless, on balance, the Economist Intelligence Unit expects the COD to soften its stance in order to have some influence on the government through the proposed dialogue.