On January 23, the opposition group “Youth of Democratic Forces Gathering” (Jeunesse RFD), staged a protest facing the US Embassy in Nouakchott. Earlier, in October 2012, Jo Ellen Powell, US Ambassador in Mauritania had wished in a conference the failure of the opposition, comparing its members to “cats.” The American Diplomat also indicated that RFD chief Ahmed Ould Daddah thinks he is the true born or the legitimate heir of his brother's rule, former president Moktar Ould Daddah. The discourse had been made public on the February 25 Movement YouTube Page and had stirred a controversy in Mauritanian media [ar].
On its Facebook Page, RFD slammed the US Ambassador's remarks:
اطلعنا في المنظمة الوطنية لشباب تكتل القوى الديمقراطية خلال الأيام الماضية على تسجيل صوتي نشرته حركة 25 فبراير، يحتوي على تصريحات للسفيرة الأمريكية في موريتانيا تساند خلالها النظام العسكري الجاثم على صدور أبناء شعبنا وتسخر فيه من منسقية ومؤسسة المعارضة الديمقراطيتين و تسيء لزعيم المعارضة الرئيس أحمد ولد داداه إساءة صريحة
We at RFD Youth, heard a statement by US Ambassador in Mauritania, made public by February 25 Movement in which she backs the Military Regime which is oppressing our people and mocks the opposition and slams its leader Ahmed Ould Dadah directly.