Mauritania : Government withdraws sponsorship of cultural festival due to Polisario involvement

The Mauritanian town of Aoujeft, located in the Adrar region, hosted a festival dedicated to Hassanie culture from August 17 to 19. The event was organized by the World Union of Hassani Poets, founded in February 2022 in Nouakchott, which invited a Polisario delegation to participate in the festival.

This invitation led to the festival losing its sponsorship from the Mauritanian government, according to a media outlet in Nouakchott. The Agence Mauritanienne de Presse (AMI) did not report the participation of the Minister of Culture in either the opening or closing ceremonies, which is a rare occurrence.

In December 2023, the Minister delivered a speech at the Cités du Patrimoine festival, and at times, the President of the Republic, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, has inaugurated certain cultural festivals.

The World Union of Hassani Poets took note of the Mauritanian government's stance. On the festival's Facebook page, it refrained from posting photos of participants holding Polisario flags, a decision criticized by Polisario supporters in Mauritania.

As a reminder, in January 2024, the President of the World Union of Hassani Poets, Eddouh Ould Binyouk, visited the Tindouf camps, where he was received by the so-called «Minister of Foreign Affairs», Mohamed Sidati.