Mauritania and Algeria seek common ground on Sahara issue

The President of the Mauritanian Parliament, retired general Mohamed Ould Meguett, met on Saturday, January 20, with his Algerian counterpart, Brahim Boughali. Western Sahara was at the heart of their talks.

In a joint statement, Boughali reaffirmed Algeria's long-held stance. «Algeria does not have territorial aims in the occupied Sahara. This issue is still listed at the United Nations as a question of decolonization, and Algeria is keen to allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions», read said statement.

He further emphasized the need for regional cooperation in the face of global challenges. «The tensions observed at the regional and international levels and the resulting challenges force Algeria and Mauritania to adopt common approaches which are, more than ever, guided by the principle of common destiny», he added.

This could be interpreted as a veiled invitation for Mauritania to align itself with Algeria's regional policies. Ould Meguett responded by echoing Algeria's commitment to non-territorial claims: «Mauritania does not have territorial aims in the Sahara. We respect the UN resolutions and hope to find a solution to this issue».

He also underscored the enduring bond between the two nations. «Whatever happens in the region will not affect fraternal relations between the two countries. Mauritania looks with pride at what Algeria and its president, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, have achieved for the good of the region, its stability and in the defense of just causes in the world».

This meeting follows similar discussions just days earlier between Algerian President Tebboune and Mauritanian Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug.