Nouakchott — Mauritanian journalists recently attended a nine-day course in Nouakchott to hone their skills at covering elections.

Thirteen Radio Mauritania journalists who will be covering the upcoming legislative and municipal elections participated in the training, which was organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Successfully reporting on the elections "requires abiding by professional rules of neutrality and co-operation with political parties", Radio Mauritania Director Mohamed Cheikh Ould Sidi Mohamed said on Friday (July 5th) at the end of the training.

"I underscore the importance of this training because it derives its significance from the organisation of the upcoming elections, which will use the biometric census and comes on the heel of Mauritania's national dialogue," Radio Mauritania's website cited him as saying.

BBC journalist Fouad Razek praised "the readiness and experience of the participants".

Reporters agreed on the importance of an integrated vision to cover elections.

"The course taught us how journalists can stay balanced without being biased in favour of one candidate at the expense of others," journalists Mohammed Amin Ould Abdallah told Magharebia.

"We also learned about reporting on opinion polls and ensuring the accuracy and impartiality of the institutions that publish them," he added.

Radio Quran Kareem journalist Mohamed Lamine Ould Mahjoub agreed: "The course taught us to refrain from carrying banners that serve certain candidates, about the need to report the statements of candidates without changing them, and how to cover elections after the close of polling stations."

"In light of the new openness and the media boom in Mauritania, I think that this will contribute to the strengthening of democratic awareness during this intense competition," Ould Mahjoub added.

Attendees were taught to "focus on carefully avoiding the trap of propaganda and steering clear of political predictions", Bowba Fall, head of the web section at Radio Mauritania, told Magharebia. "Unfortunately, we used to always commit these mistakes, especially in the official media."

"This course is an opportunity for the rehabilitation of journalists from Radio Mauritania," Rasoul Ould Elkhal, secretary-general of communications ministry, said during the opening ceremony. "It will allow them to carry out their professional duties while covering the upcoming elections."

Mauritania has yet to set a firm date for its municipal and legislative elections, due to take place in September or October of this year.