The front was initially mainly distinguished by its policy of non-participation in elections under the Ould Taya Government.
The three were tried in a criminal court some 850 kilometers from Nouakchott, and each of the accused received a sentence of five-years imprisonment.
The defense team argued that the trial was deeply flawed, and that the confessions from their clients had been obtained as a result of an interrogation during which they had been possibly "drugged" by the Mauritanian police.
[1] The party went on to contest the legislative elections in October 2001, winning one seat in the National Assembly.
Following the removal of Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya from Office in August 2005, the party competed in the 2006 elections, winning 1 out of 95 seats.