Maghreb: First visit of an Algerian president to Mauritania in 37 years

Abdelmadjid Tebboune is expected in Mauritania next week, according to Mauritanian media. This will be the first visit by an Algerian president to this Maghreb country in 37 years.

Usually, it is the Mauritanian heads of state who visit Algeria. This is evidenced by the five trips, both official and private, made by Mohamed Cheikh Ould El Ghazouani to Algiers since his inauguration in August 2019, the last of which took place a few weeks earlier on the occasion of the commemoration of the November 1st holiday.

In Mauritania, Tebboune will participate in a congress on education and employment in Africa, organized by the African Union, in Nouakchott from December 9 to 11. As a reminder, Ould El Ghazouani has held the rotating presidency of the AU since February 2024 expected to last until February 2025.

Bilateral relations will also discussed during Tebboune's visit to Mauritania. Algeria is trying to maintain its ties with its Sahelian neighbor, as it has lost influence in this area, notably in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

For the record, Mauritania has recognized the «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)» since 1984. A notable rapprochement with Morocco has taken place in recent years, but Nouakchott is trying to maintain a balance in its relations with Algiers and Rabat.