Source : Météo Sahel Juin 2025

Télécharger l'intégralité de la Météo Sahel

In June 2025, Mauritania consolidated its military cooperation with several key partners, strengthened its border controls in the face of armed threats, and signed two migration agreements with Senegal. On the diplomatic front, the installation of a Ukrainian embassy in Nouakchott illustrates new dynamics of influence in a context of rivalry with Moscow. Economically, Nouakchott is pursuing a strategy of external attractiveness, marked by its membership of the AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank), new budgetary support from the World Bank, and the updating of its fisheries agreements with the EU and Morocco. This policy aims to project the image of a stable state open to partnerships, in a region marked by instability.

Intensifying regional and international military cooperation
In terms of security, Mauritania stepped up its military cooperation with several international partners in June 2025. On June 24, Nouakchott hosted the fourth meeting of the Mauritanian-French Joint Military Committee, during which both parties agreed to extend their cooperation until 2027, including training, logistics and naval and air capabilities. This extension underscores the mutual trust between the two parties, as well as Paris' desire to maintain a stable base in a strategic area of West Africa. As part of the Cooperative Security Activity (CSA) Mauritania, Spanish instructors from the 19ᵉ special operations brigade supervised practical training for parachute commandos in Nouakchott. On June 3 and 4, 2025, a Moroccan military delegation was received in the Mauritanian capital to strengthen security cooperation and intelligence sharing within the framework of the Mauritanian-Moroccan Joint Military Commission. The multiplication of these partnerships shows that Mauritania is positioning itself as a central player in the Sahelian security system.

Security threats and cross-border cooperation
On the ground, the Mauritanian army has stepped up control of its borders with several operations in sensitive areas. On June 3, a Mauritanian drone intercepted a Polisario convoy in the Lebriga area, which had been closed since May 21. On June 11, 2025, a stock of around fifty Grad missiles concealed by the Polisario was seized by the army Mauritanian in the region. These actions are part of a series of measures taken to secure border areas. They also reflect a desire for strategic anticipation, at a time when security pressure is increasing on the Saharan borders.

In the same spirit of regional vigilance, two new agreements have been signed between Mauritania and Senegal to control migratory flows. The first aims to make it easier for Senegalese living in Mauritania to obtain residence permits, and to guarantee the free movement of students and skilled workers. The second concerns the fight against irregular migration and human trafficking, as Mauritania remains a transit point to Europe. On June 20, 20 illegal migrants were arrested while attempting to reach Spain. These agreements reflect a pragmatic approach aimed at reconciling security imperatives with regional mobility.

Political tensions and rivalries for influence
One of former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's lawyers has lodged a complaint with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, denouncing the inhumane treatment inflicted on his client, including isolation, lack of medical care following heart surgery and a ban on visits. The move comes after the Nouakchott Court of Appeal sentenced the former president to 15 years in prison for corruption in May 2025. This high-profile case is polarizing the domestic political scene and rekindling tensions between former power networks and the current regime.

On the diplomatic front, Ukraine is strengthening its presence in West Africa with the opening of an embassy in Nouakchott, the delivery of food aid to the Mbera camp and a proposal for military cooperation. This approach, based on partnership, aims to establish lasting ties with Mauritania in a regional context marked by strong Russian involvement, notably in neighboring Mali. It is also in line with Kyiv's new African strategy, adopted in 2024, which aims to counter Moscow's growing influence on the continent.

Finally, in a move more focused on economic geopolitics, Mauritania signed up to ) in Beijingthe Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB, becoming its 103rd member. Earlier this month, the World Bank announced a $50 million grant to boost the efficiency of public spending and modernize social services. In the fishing sector, vital to the national economy, Nouakchott consolidated its agreements with the European Union and Morocco, including commitments on sustainable stock management, traceability and scientific cooperation. In Vienna, at the OPEC Forum for International Development, President Ghazouani called on donors to invest in Mauritania, particularly in renewable energies, marine resources, sustainable agriculture and digitalization. These economic initiatives reflect a desire to diversify partners, in response to the country's historical dependence on Western donors.