In a significant move toward de-escalation, Mauritanian Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug held high-level diplomatic talks with the Malian Ambassador to Mauritania, Bakary Doumbia, on Monday evening in Nouakchott.
This meeting follows a sharp diplomatic row triggered by claims from the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) that two soldiers had recently escaped from a refugee camp on Mauritanian soil after being held by terrorist groups. The hearing served as a platform for both nations to review bilateral cooperation and exchange perspectives on shared security interests in an effort to stabilize a relationship strained by recent public accusations.
The dialogue took place shortly after the Mauritanian government formally denounced the Malian military’s narrative, labeling the suggestion that the M’Berra refugee camp could harbor terrorists as both unfounded and offensive. Mauritanian authorities pointed out that the camp has operated under the transparent supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and international humanitarian partners for nearly thirty years. By highlighting that the site remains under constant monitoring and is accessible to Malian officials, Nouakchott sought to discredit the military statement that linked the soldiers’ escape to the border region’s Wagadou forest operations.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the meeting between Minister Merzoug and Ambassador Doumbia signals a mutual preference for direct dialogue over public confrontation. Mauritania reiterated its commitment to maintaining fraternal relations and good neighborliness with Bamako but stressed the need for greater rigor in official communications regarding sensitive security matters. By prioritizing these diplomatic channels, both countries are attempting to manage the complex security dynamics of the Sahel without further damaging their long-standing bilateral ties.
AC/fss/abj/APA