Tensions are rising between Mauritania and Mali due to attacks on Mauritanians

The Mauritanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Malian ambassador in Nouakchott to protest against the repeated attacks suffered by Mauritanian citizens on Malian territory. The ministry clarified that these attacks are no longer acceptable and emphasized the importance of the relationship and good neighborliness between the two countries. It also informed the ambassador that the Mauritanian government is awaiting explanations from Mali regarding these incidents. In a related move, the Mauritanian Minister of Defense is carrying a message from President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani to the head of the transitional authority in Mali, which includes an official protest against these attacks.

This summons represents the first protest by the Mauritanian government against the ongoing attacks on its citizens in Mali since 2022, after the military interventions witnessed by Mali and its use of the Russian Wagner Group. The Mauritanian government warned against any attempts to violate its borders, stressing that the Mauritanian army will respond forcefully to any violations.

It is also worth noting that the Malian Foreign Ministry has summoned its ambassadors from several countries for consultations, including the Malian ambassador in Nouakchott, Mohamed Dibassy, who was appointed in 2019 and who recently participated in the visit of a Malian ministerial delegation to Mauritania.

These developments come amid regional and international tensions and highlight the urgent need to strengthen bilateral relations and maintain stability in the region to find diplomatic solutions to common security challenges between the two countries.