Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani has urged solidarity and understanding toward Mali, a country he described as “at war,” warning that the ongoing conflict threatens the stability of the entire Sahel region.
Speaking on Monday, November 10, in Adel Bagrou, a town in the far east of Mauritania near the Malian border, during the fifth leg of his tour of the Hodh Ech Chargui region, President Ghazouani delivered a message that blended political realism with fraternity.
“Mali is currently at war. That must be acknowledged,” he said, noting the direct repercussions of the conflict on Mauritania’s border areas. “We cannot expect the same behaviour from a neighbour at war as we would in times of peace.”
In a calm but firm tone, the president called on Mauritanians to show empathy and restraint amid growing regional tensions.
“The effects of this situation are visible here. Malians are our brothers. If our brothers are at war, that does not mean they stop being our brothers. They remain our brothers,” he emphasised.
While recognizing the security and economic impact of Mali’s crisis on Mauritania, President Ghazouani stressed the importance of maintaining goodwill toward the neighbouring nation.
“Since the Malians are our brothers, we must help them as much as we can. We must tolerate what they do—understanding that their actions are dictated by circumstances,” he said.
The Mauritanian leader also cautioned against rejection or prejudice toward those affected by the conflict.
“We must remain understanding. Neighbouring countries cannot move away. Crises come and go, but nations remain,” he remarked.
His appeal comes as conditions in Mali continue to deteriorate, with fuel shortages, attacks on commercial convoys, and mounting economic strain following the gradual breakdown of regional trade.
For Nouakchott, which shares over 2,000 kilometers of border with Mali, the top priority remains preserving stability and good neighbourly relations.
Recalling that “Malians have always treated Mauritanians with generosity and respect” and that “no Mauritanian has ever been expelled from Mali,” President Ghazouani reaffirmed a long-standing bond rooted in Sahelian brotherhood and coexistence.
AC/lb/as/APA