Allies:

  1. Morocco:
  • Mauritania shares a strategic alliance with Morocco, characterized by historical ties, cultural affinities, and mutual interests in regional stability and security.
  • Both countries collaborate on various issues, including counterterrorism, trade, and diplomacy, with a focus on addressing common challenges facing the Maghreb and Sahel regions.
  • The alliance between Mauritania and Morocco is reinforced by their shared opposition to threats from Islamist extremism, transnational crime, and political instability in North Africa and the Sahel.
  1. Saudi Arabia:
  • Mauritania maintains a close relationship with Saudi Arabia, based on religious, economic, and geopolitical ties.
  • Saudi Arabia has provided financial assistance, investment, and development aid to Mauritania, supporting its economic growth and infrastructure projects.
  • The alliance between Mauritania and Saudi Arabia is driven by shared religious values, diplomatic cooperation, and mutual interests in countering threats from Islamist extremism and promoting stability in the Arab world.

Enemies:

  1. Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in the Sahel region:
  • Mauritania faces security threats from Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups operating in the Sahel region, including organizations like Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).
  • These terrorist groups have conducted attacks targeting Mauritanian security forces, civilians, and international interests, leading to casualties and insecurity in the country.
  • Mauritania has implemented counterterrorism measures, including military operations, intelligence sharing, and regional cooperation, to combat the presence and activities of extremist groups in the Sahel. Additionally, Mauritania has participated in international efforts, such as the G5 Sahel initiative, to address the root causes of extremism and promote security and development in the region.