The National Rally for Reform and Development (, ), often known by its shortened Arabic name Tewassoul () or by the abbreviation of its French name (RNRD), is an Islamist political party in Mauritania. The party is associated with the Mauritanian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.
As a result of the 2013, 2018 and 2023 parliamentary election Tewassoul has become the second largest political party in Mauritania.
History The roots of Tewassoul go back to the Islamic Movement that began to be organized in Mauritania in 1975, being based on the ideas of the Muslim Brotherhood, but it remained an unauthorized secret political movement due to the different authoritarian regimes in Mauritania's history.
The Islamists were prevented from licensing any political party even after the introduction of multi-party politics in the 1990s. Nevertheless, the Islamic Movement remained present as a significant force in the local political arena, especially with its rejection of the diplomatic ties established between Mauritania and Israel between 1999 and 2009.
After the 2005 coup, and the overthrow of the regime of President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, the Islamists tried to register a political party, but the military council leading the transitional phase rejected their request, which prompted them to launch the “Initiative of Moderate Reformists” on November 23, 2005, which enabled them to enter parliament and win some municipalities as independents in the 2006 elections.
The "Centrist Reformists" (successors of the Initiative of Moderate Reformists) endorsed Saleh Ould Hanenna in the first round of the 2007 presidential election, with them backing Ahmed Ould Daddah in the second round.
Tewassoul was finally legally registered on 4 August 2007 after several failed attempts during the Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya regime.
Leadership President Mohamed Jemil Ould Mansour (2007–25 December 2017) Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Seyidi (25 December 2017–25 December 2022) Hamadi Ould Sid'El Moctar (25 December 2022–present)
Electoral performance President of Mauritania + President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Election year Candidate 1st round 2nd round Result Winning candidate Votes % Rank Votes % Rank 2009 Mohamed Jemil Ould Mansour 36,864 4.74 colspan=3 Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz 2014 colspan=7 2019 Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar 165,995 17.87 colspan=3 Mohamed Ould Ghazouani 2024 Hamadi Ould Sid'El Moctar 126,187 12.76 colspan=3
National Assembly National Assembly Election Party leader National list Seats +/– Government Votes % 2013 Mohamed Jemil Ould Mansour 81,744 13.68% 16 2018 Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Seyidi 79,283 11.28% 2 2023 Hamadi Ould Sid'El Moctar 99,431 10.24% 3
See also List of Islamic political parties
References
External links Tewassoul Facebook Account Tewassoul Youtube Channel Tewassoul Twitter Account