A recent article by Maître Ahmed Salem Bouhoubeyni has sounded the alarm on the dangers of a system built on flattery, loyalty, and complacency in Mauritania. According to Bouhoubeyni, what initially appear as individual behaviors can become a pervasive system that undermines the functioning of the state. When these behaviors are rewarded and encouraged, they can have far-reaching consequences, altering the unwritten rules that govern society.
Bouhoubeyni argues that this system degrades governance and has a ripple effect on administration, economy, justice, institutions, and professions. As loyalty and proximity to power become more valuable than merit and competence, the administration becomes fragile. This can also weaken organizations, such as trade unions and journalism, that should contribute to public debate and oversight.
The impact of this system is also felt in the life of the nation. Bouhoubeyni notes that political parties struggle to propose genuine projects for society, and public debate is often reduced to institutional or political issues, at the expense of pressing economic, social, and development questions. This can lead to a decline in the collective ability to produce thoughtful reflection, criticism, and alternatives.
Furthermore, Bouhoubeyni highlights a disturbing inversion in the relationship between the government and citizens. In a democracy, it is the government's role to convince citizens that it is addressing their concerns and to earn their trust. However, when the logic of flattery takes hold, citizens may seek to demonstrate their loyalty to the government, rather than the other way around.
This phenomenon can draw a large part of society into its orbit, with some individuals benefiting from privileges, others hoping to gain or regain them, and others acting out of fear. Those who refuse to play along are often pushed into silence and relegated to the margins of public life.
Bouhoubeyni warns that the most profound danger is moral. When flattery and complacency become normalized, they can alter collective values and moral compass. What was once considered unacceptable becomes normal, and what should provoke outrage no longer does.
Despite these challenges, Bouhoubeyni remains convinced that the path to development is within reach, provided that Mauritania does not lose its values along the way. He emphasizes the need for the country to reclaim its moral foundation, rebuild its institutions, and restore its capacity for collective reflection and criticism.
Key points
- Flattery and complacency are eroding governance and moral values in Mauritania
- The system built on loyalty and proximity to power is undermining merit and competence
- The country's development is at risk if it does not reclaim its values and moral foundation
