Mauritanian embassy hosts Sahrawi sheikhs seeking consulate in Laayoune

This week, the Mauritanian embassy welcomed sheikhs from Sahrawi tribes, staunch advocates for the Moroccan identity of Western Sahara. During this gathering, the delegation urged the ambassador to relay an official request to the government in Nouakchott: the establishment of a Mauritanian consulate in Laayoune.

According to a statement received by Yabiladi, this initiative is designed to «facilitate administrative services for Mauritanians and those of Mauritanian descent, while strengthening the human connections between the two peoples».

This proposal is part of a broader trend of warming relations between Morocco and Mauritania. Recently, a Mauritanian military and security delegation visited the Moroccan border for the first time. This visit highlights the acknowledgment of Morocco's economic sovereignty over the Sahara. The anticipated opening of the road linking Amgala to Bir Oum Grine in Mauritania is expected in the coming weeks, pending political agreements between the two nations.

The Sahrawi sheikhs' request for a Mauritanian consulate in Laâyoune follows Nouakchott's refusal of a Polisario request to open an «embassy» or «consulate» in Mauritania.