A pursuit operation conducted by "Wagner" and the Malian army results in civilians being wounded in Mauritania.

During a pursuit operation conducted by elements of the Russian "Wagner" group in collaboration with the Malian army on our territory, three young civilians were wounded and several houses were damaged by bullets. Throughout the operation, four individuals were arrested and interrogated before being released. The operation aimed to pursue terrorists, according to a Malian security source, and local sources confirmed that the targets were militants from the "Massina" brigade and the "Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen" group. No official comment has been issued by either the Mauritanians or the Malians regarding the incident, while a commander of a Mauritanian brigade visited border areas confirming the forces' capability to secure and protect civilians.

These incidents are not the first of their kind in the border areas between Mauritania and Mali, where military operations and pursuits conducted by forces from the Russian "Wagner" group in cooperation with the Malian army are repeated, leading to harm to local populations and exposing them to risk. The operations aimed at combating terrorism and armed groups, including the "Massina" brigade and the "Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen" group, carry negative impacts on the lives of ordinary civilians, highlighting the urgent need for a balance between security operations and the protection of innocent populations.

The authorities, recognizing the complex security challenges facing the region, have called on citizens to exercise caution, especially in areas near the border with Mali, which is a hotspot for terrorist activities. This call reflects the extent of official and public concern about the possibility of these incidents recurring and their impact on security and stability in the region.

These operations come at a time when regional tensions are escalating and the borders between countries become a stage for the movements of armed groups that move with relative freedom across vast and unstable areas, placing local populations in a perilous situation.

Furthermore, the fragmentation witnessed within the group of African Sahel countries, particularly following the military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, presents our country with immense security and political challenges. These countries, which were part of the counter-terrorism efforts and security cooperation in the Sahel region, are now experiencing periods of political and security instability, negatively impacting the joint regional efforts to ensure security and combat armed groups.

For us, these developments pose a significant challenge, especially in light of the need to secure vast desert territories that share borders with several countries experiencing turmoil. The vastness of the desert and the isolated border areas make it difficult to conduct effective surveillance and security operations, particularly in the context of declining regional cooperation and mutual support among the Sahel countries.

In this context, our country may find itself compelled to reassess its security and military strategies to secure its borders and protect its citizens. This could involve strengthening local military and security capacities, developing tactics to address new challenges, and possibly seeking new partnerships with other countries and international organizations to fill the security gaps resulting from the political transformations in the region.

Elle doit également travailler à renforcer la compréhension et la communication avec les communautés locales dans ces régions pour assurer leur coopération et leur soutien dans les efforts de lutte contre le terrorisme et l'extrémisme.