The Mauritanian authorities adopted, on Wednesday June 15 in the Council of Ministers, the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation that Nouakchott had signed with Madrid in 2008.
The treaty was precisely initialed on July 24, 2008 by the late President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi during an official visit to Madrid. But he must have been forgotten because this head of state had been overthrown two weeks later by a military coup led by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who later became president.
Its reactivation comes in a context where Spain has drawn the wrath of Algeria since it showed its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan in the Sahara. In its many reprisals, Algiers suspended, on June 8, the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation which had linked it to Spain since 2002.
How to understand Mauritania’s gesture? A mere coincidence of events? An act of solidarity with Spain? An expression of his choice in the conflict over the Sahara? The future will certainly tell us more.
Meanwhile, Nouakchott’s act will certainly exacerbate Algiers’ anger. Wait and see!
By OMA Newsletter N° 744 of 16/06/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
