Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad Ahmed Attaf discussed active trade exchange through the border center and the border security in Nouakchott.
The Foreign Ministry stated that Attaf met Tuesday with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Sheikh el-Ghazaouani, as part of his working visit to Nouakchott as the special envoy of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the progress made in the follow-up and implementation of the directives of the leaders of the two countries and the conclusions of their consultations during the state visit of Ghazaouani in December 2021 to Algeria, which initiated a new era in history of Algerian-Mauritanian relations.
According to the statement, the two sides welcomed the critical momentum of bilateral relations and the conclusions of the 19th session of the Grand Joint Commission, which opened promising prospects for establishing a strategic partnership based on critical economic plans.
The projects include the road linking Tindouf to Zouerate, the opening of an Algerian bank in Nouakchott, the establishment of a permanent exhibition of the Algerian Company of Fairs and Exports (SAFEX), and the exploitation of fishing quotas offered by Mauritania to Algeria.
The meeting was attended by the director general of Documentation and External Security, Major General M'henna Djebbar, which reflects the security aspect of Attaf's visit.
The meeting provided an opportunity to emphasize the commitment of the two countries leaders to the traditions of mutual support, consultation, and coordination on issues raised in the various spaces and organizations of common membership.
It established the basis of their deep conviction that the regional and international tensions and the challenges arising require adopting common approaches based more than ever on the principle of the common destiny.
Later, Attaf met Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal Messaoud and discussed upcoming bilateral events, including the meeting of the Monitoring Committee and the holding of the 20th session of the Grand Joint Commission scheduled in Algiers.
They discussed the follow-up of the implementation of the results of the 19th session of the Grand Joint Commission of Algerian-Mauritanian cooperation held last September in Nouakchott, including the intensification of bilateral cooperation in the socio-economic, cultural, and scientific fields.
They also addressed the need to work to mobilize the human and material resources necessary to accelerate the implementation of joint projects between the two brotherly countries.
Sources following up on the visit pointed out that the Algerian political and security delegation focused on the security conditions surrounding the trade movement on the desert roads leading to Nouakchott after two attacks targeting merchants in 2021 and 2023.
In 2021, several trucks loaded with goods were hit by missiles twice in the border areas, coming from Morocco.
Algeria vowed to respond to the attack. The attack on the border between Ouargla, southern Algeria, and Nouakchott killed three persons.
The second attack took place at the beginning of 2023 on the Tindouf road, in southwestern Algeria, near the borders with Morocco and Mauritanian Zuerate, killing several.
