German Foreign Minister Wadephul Makes Historic Visit to Mauritania, Pledges Partnership
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) made the first visit by a German foreign minister to Mauritania in nearly 20 years, meeting his counterpart Mohamed Merzoug in Nouakchott. Wadephul declared Germany's intention to be an 'important, reliable, and stable partner' for the desert state, which is seen as a rare anchor of stability in the volatile Sahel region. The visit comes amid growing security concerns after a deadly jihadist attack in neighboring Mali killed over 50 soldiers. Mauritania has taken in approximately 320,000 refugees from Mali. Wadephul pledged German support through UN funds and development aid for refugee-hosting communities. Merzoug requested German assistance in security and defense training, infrastructure investment, and renewable energy cooperation, including potential green hydrogen exports. However, the article notes that Mauritania's record on press freedom remains poor, casting a shadow on the partnership.
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